LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



REMINISCENCES 



OF 



TWO YEARS 



IN THE 



UNITED STATES NAVY. 



By JOHN M. BATTEN, B. E., M. D., 

Late Acting Assistant Surgeon Ujiited States Navy, Pittsburgh, Pa. 



PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. -K^l^^t.^^H^^V- 

LANCASTER, PA. ^=^^;;^^p wasH\H^;^ 

INQUIRER PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COT 
1881. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, 
By JOHN M. BATTEN, B. E., M. D., ^ 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 






TO THE 



Grand Army of the Republic, 



AND TO THE 



Soldiers and Sailors 

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AS AN OFFERING FOR THE 
PRESERVATION OF THE UNION, 

AND TO MY MOTHER, 

SARAH BATTEN, 

THIS LITTLE BOOK OF REMINISCENCES 



RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 



PREFACE. 



The only excuse I offer for publishing this little 
book of reminiscences is that a story half told is bet- 
ter than a st6ry not told at all. 

J. M. B. 

7j Sixth Avenue, Piitsbui'gh, Pa,, May 8, 1881. 



CONTENTS, 



PAGE. 

Appointment in the United States Navy 9 

On the Princeton , 10 

Choice Prescriptions lo 

Acting as Coxswain 1 1 

Detached from the Princeton 12 

Adieu to Mother , 12 

Back of Orders 13 

A Night on the United States Steamer Minnesota 14 

Visiting Important Places in the Vicinity of Hampton, Va 15 

Dismal Swamp Canal. Reporting Aboard the Valley City. 15 

Washington, N. C. . 16 

Sinking United'States Steamers Southfield and Bombshell 17 

Death of Flusser. Plymouth Re-captured by the Confederates. . 17 

An Attack on Washington. N. C 17 

Down Tar River in a Storm. Evacuation of Washington, N. C 18 

Newbern 19 

Cruising 20 

July 4, 1 864 22 

Cruising, and Capturing John Taylor. . , 22 

Ordered to the Mouth of Roanoke River 24 

Roanoke Island , 25 

Joining the Fleet 25 

Ram Albemarle and Edenton 26 

Taking H. T. Wood to U. S. Naval Hospital, Norfolk, Va 27 

Again Through Dismal Swamp Canal. Too Late for the Boat 

Fawn. At Norfolk, Va , . . , 28 

Arriving Aboard the United States Steamer Valley City, and de- 
scription of Dismal Swamp 29' 

Leaving Newbern 32 

Winton . . . , 32 

Appearance of the Albemarle at the Mouth of Roanoke River. . 33 

Aground in Scuppernong river. A Brush with the Enemy 34 

(7) 



8 CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Confederate Account of It - 35 

What Mr. Milton Webster says of the Brush 36 

Up Alligator River 38 

Up Frying-pan River > 39 

Gushing the Brave 40 

Meeting Gushing for the First Time 40 

His Arriving Aboard the Valley Gity 41 

Blov^ing up the Ram Albemarle 41 

Three Gheers for Gushing 42 

Gushing's Official Report 45 

New York Herald's Dispatches 49 

Mr. Galen H. Osborne's Dispatch 49 

]Mr. Oscar G. Sawyer's Dispatch 52 

The Hero of the Albemarle in Washington, D.^G 62 

The Valley Gity on the Dry Dock for Repairs 63 

From Gosport, Va., to Plymouth, N. G. 63 

During the Month of November, 1864 6^ 

Ashore for the First Time at Plymouth 64 

Ashore at Newbern 64 

Gruising 65 

Rainbow Bluff. How a Fleet went up the Roanoke and came 

down again 65 

New York Herald's Dispatch 77 

Thanks of the Officers of the Otsego to Gaptain W^ood S6 

That Old Family Bible S7 

The Valley Gity and Her Officers 89 

Gruising ' 92 

Ghincapin Ridge 98 

Gruising. 100 

Farewell to the Officers and Grew of the Valley Gity no 

Homeward Bound in 

Again through Dismal Swamp Ganal 112 

At Home 112 

Meeting Men of Note 113 

Ordered to Gairo, 111 116 

Don Garlos Hasseltino 118 

Honorable Discharge from U. S. Navy 124 



TWO YEARS 

IX THE 

UNITED STATES NAVY. 



AFTER having passed an examination before the 
Medical Board of the United States Navy, which 
was in session at the United States Naval Asylum, 
Philadelphia, Pa., Dr. James Green, President of the 
Medical Board, I received the following appointment: 

Navy Department, 22d March, 1864. 

You are hereby appointed Acting Assistant Sur- 
geon in the Navy of the United States on temporary 
service. 

After having executed the enclosed oath and re- 
turned it to the Department w4th your letter of ac- 
ceptance, you will proceed to Philadelphia without 
delay, and report to CommiOdore Stribling for tem- 
porary duty on board the United States steamer 

Princeton. 

. Very respectfully, 

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy. 

Acting Assistant Surgeon John M. Batten, United 

States Navy, Guthrieville, Pa. 

9 



lO REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

After bidding my relatives and friends good-bye, I 
proceeded to Philadelphia, Pa.^ and reported for duty 
on board the United States steamer Princeton, which 
was lying anchored in the Delaware river off Phila- 
delphia, and which was the same vessel on which 
Abel Parker Upshur, Secretary of State under Presi- 
dent Tyler, was killed by the explosion of a monster 
cannon whilst visiting said vessel, in company with 
the President and other members of the Cabinet. 
The duty aboard this vessel was of an initiatory char- 
acter, to prepare officers for clerical duties peculiar to 
each of their particular offices. I made the acquaint- 
ance on this vessel of Surgeon James McClelland, 
who was the Surgeon of the Princeton. He had en- 
tered the United States Navy when a young man, 
and had been in the service ever since. He was 
about fifty-five years of age. The first morning after 
sleeping aboard this vessel, I was awakened by what 
is always usual aboard a man-of-war, a large gun fired 
at sunrise. The concussion and reverberation from 
the report of the heavy gun shook the vessel till it 
creaked, and, in my half-slumbering condition, I won- 
dered to myself whether it was not a real battle in 
which the vessel was engaged ; but upon mature re- 
flection and inquiry, I learned it was only the report 
of the sunrise gun. 

One day, whilst on board the Princeton, a blank 
book in which were copied a number of choice prescrip- 
tions used by many of the old celebrated physicians of 
Philadelphia, fell into my hands. The book belonged 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. I I 

to Surgeon James McClelland. I thought, as I had 
nothing else special to do, I would occupy the time in 
re-copying these prescriptions into a blank book of 
my own ; and just as I was re-copying the last pre- 
scription, Dr. James McClelland came aboard. He 
noticed me engaged in writing, and came into the 
state-room where I was, and observed his book. He 
immediately asked me where I had got the book. I 
told him where I had got it. 

'' Why," said he, " I would not take any money for 
a copy of those prescriptions. I consider them 
very valuable, and would not for any considera- 
tion let my best friend have a copy of them." 

I told him that I believed it to be very wrong not 
to let prescriptions which have been found valuable 
in disease, be known. After reprimanding me for re- 
copying the prescriptions, he cooled down, and became 
very affable. I, however, got a copy of the prescrip- 
tions. 

• Another day, in rowing aboard the Princeton from 
the United States Navy Yard at Phikdelphia, Pa., I 
acted as coxswain, and came very near capsizing the 
boat in the Delaware river. The river was very rough, 
and I got the boat in what the sailors call the ''trough 
of the sea." I, however, arrived on board the Prince- 
ton safely, after running the boat '' bows on " against 
the steamer. The officer of the deck said : 

'' Sir, why don't you bring that boat alongside in a 
sailor-like manner?" 

" Why," I said, '' I am glad to get aboard in any 



12 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

manner, even though there were a hole stove in the 
side of the Princeton by my boat; besides, sir, I know 
nothing about bringing a boat alongside in a sailor-like 
manner." I soon, however, learned to manage a 
small boat in water very well. 

On receiving the foUov/ing order: 

Navy Department, 5th April, 1864. 

Sir : You are hereby detached from the Princeton, 
and you will proceed to Hampton Roads, Va., with- 
out delay, and report to Acting Rear Admiral Lee 
for duty on board the United States steamer Valley 
City. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant. 

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy. 
Acting Assistant Surgeon John Isl. Batten, U. S. 

Navy, Philadelphia. 

I left the Princeton, and after bidding my mother 
farewell, who was stopping with my sister, who 
resided in Philadelphia — this was a hard task, anfl 
it affected us both greatly ; but separate we did, and 
whether we should ever meet again in this world 
was a question which time alone would determine 
— on turning a corner I looked back, and saw my 
mother standing on the steps of the doorway, weep- 
ing. It was to me an affecting separation. I jour- 
neyed to the Philadelphia and Baltimore railroad 
depot, located in the southern part of Philadel- 
phia, Pa., and at 8 o'clock a. m. of a beautiful day I 
took the train for Baltimore, Md., arriving in that 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 1 3 

city at about noon of the same day. Having some 
time to view the city, I took advantage of the oppor- 
tunity, and promenaded the principal thoroughfares. 
At 5 o'clock p. m,, I took the steamer Louisiana for 
Fortress Monroe, and arrived there the next morning, 
and as soon thereafter as possible reported to Admiral 
Lee. On the back of my order I find : 

Delivered April 6, 1864, C. K. Stribling, Comman- 
der. 

Delivered April 6, 1864, John Calhoun, Comman- 
dant. 

Flagship Minnesota, off Newport News, Va. 

Reported April 8, 1864. — Apply to Col. Biggs, 
Army Quartermaster at Fortress Monroe, for trans- 
portation to Ne\vbern, and then report to Captain 
Davenport in the sounds of North Carolina. 

S. P. Lee, Acting Rear Admiral, 
Commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. 

Transportation will be given by first steamer bound 
for North Carolina. Herman Biggs. 

April 9, 1864. 
Reported April 14, 1864. 

Report to Acting ^Master J. A. J. Brooks, Com- 
manding U. S. steamer Valley City. 

H. K. Davenport, Commander U. S. N., 
Senior Naval Officer, Sounds of N. C. 
Reported April 15, 1864. 

John A. J. Brooks, Acting Master, 
Commanding U. S. steamer Valley City. 



14 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

It being late in the evening of April 8, 1864, when 
I reported on board the United States steamer ]\Iinne- 
sota, and there being no opportunity to return ashore, 
1 was compelled to remain aboard the ^Minnesota till 
the following morning, April 9, 1864. Being very 
much fatigued, I retired early, and soon fell soundly 
asleep. About i a. m., I was aroused from my slum- 
bers by a noise; I could not for the life of me tell 
from whence it camic or whither it had gone ; but it 
was sufficient to arouse and bewilder me, for it made 
the vessel tremble. I soon arose from my sleeping 
couch, put on my clothes, and made my way, in the 
darkness, through the ward-room to the forward 
hatchway, and to the gun -deck. There I found Ad- 
miral Lee, with his officers and men, on deck in their 
night clothes. I soon learned what was the cause of 
the excitement. It was an explosion of a hundred- 
pound torpedo under the bottom of the [Minnesota, 
which had been borne thither by a torpedo-boat 
manned by Confederates from somewhere up the 
James river. The officers and men on deck, in the 
gloom of the night, were discussing in a subdued but 
excited tone the possibility of capturing the torpedo- 
boat ; but, owning to the fires in the picket-boats to the 
i\Iinnesota being out, nothing could be done till the 
steam in them was raised; and in the meantime the 
torpedo-boat was allowed to return up the James 
river. The damage to the ^Minnesota was considera- 
ble, though no hole was made in her hull. Her guns 
were dismounted, her partitions were broken down, 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 15 

her doors were jambed, her chairs and tables were 
upset, and crockery- ware broken. After the excite- 
ment of the occasion was over, I returned to my 
berth, and slept soundly till morning. 

After a few days spent in visiting the important 
places in the vicinity of Hampton, one of which was 
Fortress Monroe, I took passage on a boat through 
the Dismal Swamp Canal to Albemarle Sound, and 
from thence through the sounds of North Carolina 
to the Neuse river, up which we steamed to Newbern, 
where I reported to Commander H. K. Davenport, on 
board the United States steamer Hetzel, xvho ordered 
me to report for duty to Acting Master J. A. J. 
Brooks, aboard the United States Steamer Valley City, 
which was lying off Hill's Point, near Washington, 
N. C., on the Tar river. Dr. F. E. Martindale, Surgeon 
aboard the Valley City, the gentleman whom I was to 
relieve, met me at Newbern, N. C, and accompanied 
me to that vessel. 

It was 5 a. m. of April 15, 1864, when I reported 
to Captain J. A. J. Brooks for duty. I was ushered 
into the ward-room of the Valley City and introduced 
to the officers, some of whom were not up. James 
M. Battin, the engineer, one of the officers who had 
not yet arisen, on hearing my name mentioned, 
thought that letters directed to him were being called, 
and he sprang suddenly out of his berth ; but it was 
only to be introduced to a person of the same name, 
yet an entire stranger. Dr. Martindale had been ex- 
pecting his relief for some weeks ; being anxious to 



1 6 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

return home to his family, he left for Newbern in the 
same boat (the Trumpeter) which brought us hither 
from that place. 

Washington is a small town, situated on the left 
bank of the Tar river, thirty miles from its mouth. 
It was occupied by about fifteen hundred Federal 
troops. The United States steamer Louisiana, the 
vessel on which the powder was afterwards exploded 
off Fort Fisher, was lying immediately off the town. 
Below Washington, N. C, on either side of the river, 
there was timber. On the right bank, just below the 
town, was Rodman's Point; three miles farther down 
the river, on the same side, was. Hill's Point, and still 
farther down on the same side was Maule's Point — 
places which the Confederates had fortified previous 
to their falling into the hands of the Federals. 

Newbern on the Neuse river, Washington on the 
Tar river, and Plymouth on the Roanoke river, lie in 
a circle which might be described from a point some- 
where in Pamlico Sound — the former and latter 
towns being each about thirty miles from Washington, 
the latter town being in the middle; so that the report 
of heavy artillery could be heard at Washington from 
either of the other two places. 

Saturday, April i6, 1864, my diary states that Ply- 
mouth was attacked by the Confederates. Firing 
continued every day till Tuesday, April 19, 1864, 
when the place felWnto the hands of the Confederates. 
Lieutenant-Commander Charles W. Flusser made a 
remark early in the morning of April 19, 1 864, that 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 1 7 

he would either sink the rebel ram Albemarle before 
night, or he would be in . Captain Flusser com- 
manded the United States steamer Miami, and Captain 
French the ill-fated Southfield. These two vessels had 
been lashed together at their sterns early in the morn- 
ing, for the purpose of inducing the Albemarle to 
come between the vessels, and in this manner, if pos- 
sible, sink her. The rebel ram, early in the morning 
of April 19, came floating down the Roanoke river 
with the current, past the batteries on the right bank 
of the river above Plym.outh, and bore down upon the 
United States steam.ers Southfield and Bombshell, 
and sunk them. It is supposed that Captain Flus- 
ser, in the excitement of the moment, exposed him- 
self unnecessarily, and was shot by a sharp-shooter 
from the Albemarle. When it was noised among the 
Federal army and naval forces at Plymouth that 
Flusser was killed, the Federal forces became more or 
less demoralized, and the place fell into the hands of 
the Confederates. Captain Flusser w^as a brave and 
daring officer. He was interred in the cemetery at 
Newbern, and on a board that marked his resting 
place, in the fall of 1864, was inscribed his name, and 
below it, '^ Peace to his ashes," 

On Wednesday, April 27, 1864, an attack was 
made by the Confederates on Washington, N. C. 
There is great excitement among the residents of the 
place, so that some of them are leaving by every pos- 
sible route. We hear the firing quite plain off Hill's 
Point. At 12 m. all is quiet. Preparation is being 



1 8 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

made to evacuate Washington, N. C. The day is 
beautiful. The ammunition of the army at this point 
has been put aboard the Valley City for the purpose 
of conveying it to Newbern. The thermometer stands 
85°. The Federal large guns on the forts outside of 
Washington are being fired all day. The Valley City 
got under weigh, proceeded down the river, and shelled 
the woods below Washington. There were twenty- 
three shells from tjie 32-pounder guns fired, which 
burst among the tree-tops. 

Thursday, April 28, 1864. — This morning there 
were a few shots fired from heavy guns by the Federal 
troops, but they soon ceased. The evacuation is 
going on quietly. The place has a deserted and 
gloomy appearance. 

Friday, April 29. — The place is quiet. Transport 
boats are steam.ing to Newbern, laden with the Fede- 
ral troops and provisions of the place. Two gunboats, 
the United States steamers Commodore Barney and 
Commodore Hull, steamed up the river to assist in 
the evacuation. At 3^ o'clock p. m. the Valley 
City, with thirty-one barrels of powder aboard, and a 
large number of shells, weighed anchor and steamied 
for Newbern. In going down the Tar river, one of 
those violent thunder-storms peculiar to that climate 
came up. It was not considered a very safe place to 
be aboard the Valley City with all this powder during 
a. thunder-storm. I was glad when the storm was 
over. We got aground for one hour in Pamlico 
Sound, but arrived safely at Newbern at 9 o'clock a. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. IQ 

m., Saturday, April 30th, 1864. Washington, N. C, 
is evacuated. 

Sunday, Jlay i, 1864.— The Valley City took in 
coal and then proceeded toward Washington, N. C. 
At 8 p. m. she anchored off Brant Island light-house. 
May 2d, Monday. We got under weigh at 5 a. m., 
and proceeded toward Washington. — At 4 o'clock p. 
m. we anchored off Rodman's Point, and fired a shell 
into Washington at a number of Confederates. We 
then got under weigh, and proceeded down below 
Mauie's Point, and anchored. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 3d and 4th, 
nothing of note transpired but taking refugees aboard. 
On Thursday, May 5th, the Valley City shelled Hill's 
Point, then she got under weigh, and proceeded up 
Pungo river, and anchored for the night. On Satur- 
day, May 7, 1864, the Valley City got under weigh, 
and proceeded to Newbern, w^here she arrived at 9 
a. m.. of the 8th. Jamies W. Sands, John ]\Iaddock 
and myself, attended church. 

Newbern is a beautiful town on the right bank of 
the Xeuse river. Just below Xewbern the Xeuse 
river receives the Trent river as a tributary. The 
houses of the place were brick and also frame. They 
stood back from the street, with yards in front of 
them, in which choice flowers grew and bloomed. 
The streets are at right angles. In the cemetery, in 
the western part of the town, are interred many of 
the early settlers of the place. The cemetery is v^ery 
old, and the tombstones, many of them, present an 



20 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

ancient appearance. On the 9th I was ashore — on 
the loth we left Newbern. The nth we arrived off 
Maule's Point, and took on as a refugee Mrs. Forbes. 
The 1 2th raining, the Valley City took aboard some 
more refugees. On the 13th, 14th and 15th, nothing 
of note took place. The i6th we destroyed the guns 
at Hill's Point. The 17th, at 2:45 p. m., we proceeded 
to Newbern, where we arrived at 8:30 a. m. of the 
1 8th, 

The Valley City remained off Newbern till 
June 4th, when we left at i p. m., and arrived off 
Hill's Point at gj{ a. m. of the 5th. The 6th we 
went ashore at Maule's Point, and got a mess of 
strawberries. The 7th we landed at Bath. The 8th 
two boats' crews were sent to Maule's Point to watch 
the Confederates, a squad of whom had assembled 
there. Two shots were fired from the Valley City, 
one to the right and the other to the left of the house 
on the point. The family living In the house was 
very much frightened, but nobody was hurt. On the 
9th and loth, nothing of note occurred. The nth 
cloudy, the Thomas Collyer, a mail-boat from New- 
bern, came up with a " flag of truce," and went to 
Washington. 

On the 1 2th and 13th there was nothing of note 
took place. On the 14th we went ashore at Bath, and 
called on Mr. Windley's family. The 15th, we went 
ashore at Maule's Point, and called on Mrs. Orrell's 
family. Mrs. Forbes made me a present of a Confed- 
erate flag. In the evening, we steamed down to the 
mouth of Pungo river, and anchored for the night. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 21 

Thursday, June i6. — There was an armed party- 
sent ashore, for the purpose of foraging. After they 
had returned we proceeded up Pungo river to Leech- 
ville, a small place at the head-waters of that river. 
The occupation of its inhabitants was cutting down 
timber and making shingles. There was an armed 
party sent ashore, who captured and brought aboard 
a quantity of corn. We then left with a scow in tow, 
and proceeded down the river and anchored off 
Wright's Creek. The 17th, the United States steamer 
Ceres arrived from Newbern. An armed party was 
sent ashore for the purpose of foraging. On the i8th, 
in company with the United States steamer Ceres, the 
Valley City steamed through Pamlico Sound. The 
Ella May soon hove in sight, with two schooners she 
had captured in tow. On the 19th the Valley City, 
Ceres, and Ella May, with the schooners in tow, 
steamed up the Pungo river, and anchored off Sandy 
Point. At about 10 p. m. we proceeded farther up 
the river, and landed an armed party of men for the 
purpose of capturing some Confederates at Leechville. 
On the 20th we proceeded up the river to Leechville 
to join the party, which had already arrived there. 
Three schooners were loaded with shingles. On the 
2 1st, the United States steamers Valley City, Ceres, 
and Ella May, proceeded down Pungo river with the 
three schooners laden with shingles in tow. On the 
22d, we anchored in Pamlico Sound. At 8 a. m. we 
proceeded towards Newbern, where we arrived with 
the schooners in tow at 8 p. m. 



22 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

On July 4th, the Valley City, in commemoration of 
the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 
fired twenty-one guns, and a copy of the Declaration of 
Independence was read to the officers and crew of the 
Valley City by Captain J. A. J. Brooks. On the 5th, 
the Valley City got under weigh, and proceeded to- 
wards Tar river, and on the 6th arriv^ed and anchored 
off ]\Iaule's Point. On the loth, the Valley City got 
under weigh and proceeded to Bath, where an armed 
force was landed, and captured John Taylor, Company 
G, 62d Georgia cavalry. In trying to make his es- 
cape, he jumped from a buggy which was drawn by 
a horse in rapid flight, and in doing so injured his 
knee, so that he was unable to walk for five weeks. 
On the fly-leaf of a Bible which I loaned him to read 
in his leisure hours, he wrote : 

'' May peace and happiness attend thee, and 
Heaven's richest blessings crown thee ever more. 
When this you see, remember me. 

'' Your most obedient servant, 

''John Taylor. 

''Houstin City, Ga., yuly, 1864." 

At about ID p. m. of the same day, July 10, an- 
other armed party of men was landed with the inten- 
tention of capturing some Confederate pickets, but 
did not succeed. Bath, N. C, is a very small place 
on the left bank of the Tar river, at the junction of 
Bath, creek, about ten miles below Washington. 
The place was built of frame principally. The people 
of the place were rather intelligent. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 23 

July 13. — The Valley City got under weigh, and 
proceeded down Tar river to Durham's creek, and 
sent a party out to fish; afterwards she steamed down 
the river, and anchored off North creek, and there 
brought a boat to, which had permission from the 
Federal Government to trade with the loyal people 
of Beaufort county, N. C. On the 14th, got under 
weigh and steamed over to South creek ; from thence 
down to the mouth of Tar river, and anchored. On 
the 15th, the Valley City proceeded to off Maule's 
Point and anchored. Mrs. Daniels and her two chil- 
dren, with her sister-in-law, came aboard. On the 
19th, the U. S, steamer Louisiana hove in sight. 
The Valley City proceeded to the mouth of the Tar 
river with her, where we anchored. 

After taking abroad our refugees, the Louisiana pro- 
ceeded to Newbern. On the 21st, at 7 o'clock a. m., 
the Valley City steamed for Newbern, where she ar- 
rived at 4 p. m. On the evening of July 31, the 
Valley City was ordered to proceed up the Trent 
river to guard that river in case of an expected attack. 
August 4th, the Valley City was ordered down to her 
old anchorage off Newbern. On the 5th, at 8 a. m., 
we weighed anchor and proceeded down the Neuse 
river, through Pamlico Sound, and up the Tar river, 
and at 6 p. m. relieved the U. S. steamer Louisiana. 
At 7 p. m., the Valley City anchored near the mouth 
of Bath creek. Mrs. Quin and Mrs. Harris were 
brought with us from Newbern, and landed near Bath 
creek. 



24 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

On the loth we weighed anchor and proceeded 
down the Tar river. At the mouth of Bath creek, 
two shells were fired from the howitzers, at a house 
where there there were a number of Confederates. 
At 2 o'clock p. m. we anchored in South creek. On 
the nth, at 12 m., we weighed anchor and proceeded 
to Pamlico light-house and anchored. On the 13th, 
at 4 o'clock a. m. we weighed anchor and proceeded 
to Brant Island light-house in order to get the mail 
from the U. S. steamer Massasoit that we expected to 
meet steaming near this point. At i o'clock p. m. we 
weighed anchor and proceeded to above Maule's point, 
where we anchored at 6 o'clock p. m. On the 1 8th, 
at 7 o'clock a. m., we weighed anchor and proceeded 
down Tar river past Maule's Point, down by the mouth 
of Bath creek, and down by South creek, where we 
anchored at 3 o'clock p. m. During this cruise there 
have been eight refugees taken aboard. On the 19th, 
we weighed anchor, and proceeded to Maule's Point. 
On our way we stopped at the mouth of Durham's 
creek. Captain J. A. J. Brooks and I went ashore. 
At 6 p. m. we anchored at the mouth of Bath creek. 
In the evening there was a heavy thunder-storm, ac- 
companied with rain. 

On the 20th, at 9^ o'clock a. m., we were relieved 
by the United States steamer Louisiana, and the Val- 
ley City was ordered to the neighborhood of the 
mouth of Roanoke river, in Albemarle Sound, to join 
the fleet composed of United States steamers Sham- 
rock, Sassacus, Ceres, Tacony, Chicopee, Mattabessett, 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 25 

and Wyalusing, to assist in watching the Confederate 
ram Albemarle, which was stationed at Plym.outh, 
which is situated on the right bank of the Roanoke 
river, eight miles from_ its mouth. We arrived at 
Roanoke Island at 12 m., and coaled. A portion of 
Roanoke Island is a barren, sandy place, separating 
the Atlantic Ocean from Pam.lico Sound. 
. On Roanoke Island, in 1585, the first attempt to 
found an English colony in America was made. 
Though abandoned the following year, it was in ad- 
vance of any similar effort. After the w^ar commenced, 
the place was held by the Confederates till the year 
1862, when the Federal forces under General Burn- 
side captured the place. On the 21st the Valley City 
left Roanoke Island at 12 m., and joined the fleet, and 
anchored for the night. 

On Monday, August 22d, 18&4, at 9 o'clock, a. m., 
the Valley City was ordered to the mouth of Roanoke 
river, where the United States steamers Ceres and 
Sassacus were anchored. \Ve w^ere to take a very 
dangerous and responsible position, immediately at 
the mouth of the Roanoke river. During the long 
dark nights the Valley City did not anchor, for it w^as 
rumored that the Confederate ram Albemarle might 
com.e down any night, and especially a very dark 
night under the cover of the darkness, so that the 
Valley City must be constantly on the alert. If the 
Albemarle did make her appearance at the mouth of 
the Roanoke river, the Valley City was to fire one 
gun as a signal to the fleet, v/hich w^as anchored six 
2 



26 REMINISCENXES OF TWO YEARS 

miles farther down the Albemarle Sound, and then 
steam towards the fleet. 

This Confederate ram w^as a formidable adversary 
on water. She had a sharp arrow-like ram extending 
twenty feet under water in front of her bow. She was 
plated with iron, which completely protected her in- 
mates from solid shot; she had two two-hundred- 
pounder Brooke's rifled guns on the inside of this iron 
encasement, and one port-hole to each of her four 
sides. She was very unwieldy, but in a body of w^ater 
like the Albemarle or Pamlico Sound no wooden ves- 
sel could cope with her. 

Friday, August 25. — I visited Edenton to-day for 
the first time. It is situated pleasantly on the bank 
of Edenton Bay, as it is called, but really Albemarle 
Sound. The people are kind, courteous, educated, 
and hospitable. There were magnificent residences 
in the place, each of which was surrounded by a large 
yard with shade trees, having that comfortable, spa- 
cious, home-like appearance, which so many of the 
buildings in Southern cities present. When the offi- 
cers of the Valley City first visited Edenton, they 
w^ere treated very coolly by the people; but gradually 
they became quite sociable, and w^e were invited 
to visit many of the families of the place — in fact, one 
of our officers afterwards married an Edenton lady. 
Edenton was a sort of neutral ground, at which the 
Federal officers and Confederate officers often met. 
On August 31, the day was clear and cool. Nothing 
took place of any note except a false alarm that the 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 2/ 

ram was coming down the river, causing some excite- 
ment aboard the Valley City. 

Thursday, September I, 1864, the double-ender 
Shamrock came up from the fleet. Last night som.e 
army gunborts took an armed body of men up the 
Chowan river, to be landed and marched across to 
Plymouth for the purpose of destroying the Albe- 
marle. The project was not successful. The day is 
cool and hazy. The double-ender Wyalusing came 
up from the fleet during the night. The Albemarle 
ram is expected out to-night. 

2d. — The ram did not miake her appearance. The 
double-enders all went to Edenton. The weather is 
pleasant. 

On the 4th I went to Edenton and spent the after- 
noon at Mr. B.'s, and made the acquaintance of his 
daughters. On the 6th, H. T. Wood, paymaster's 
clerk, and myself, went aboard a tug, and were con- 
veyed to the United States steamer Shamrock, from 
whence we boarded the Trumpeter, w^here Dr. P. H. 
Barton and myself held a medical survey upon 
H. T. Wood, and sent him to the United States Naval 
Hospital at Norfolk, Va. I accompanied him. We 
left the Shamrock at 7 o'clock p. m., in the Trum- 
peter, and anchored at i a. m., Septemiber 7th, and at 
6 o'clock a. m. weighed anchor, and arrived at Roan- 
oke Island at 8 a. m. We left Roanoke Island at i 
p. m., and at 8 p. m. we changed to the Fawn, and 
after steaming two hours anchored for the night. On 
the 8th we weighed anchor ^it 5 a. m., and changed 



28 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

boats to the Undine at 1 1 a. m., and arrived at Nor- 
folk at I p. m., when I immediately took H. T. Wood 
to the hospital. I stopped at the National Hotel. 

On the 9th I went to Quartermaster's ofifice at Nor- 
folk to procure transportation to Roanoke Island, but 
I was a half hour too late, the boat Undine having 
left at 8 o'clock a. m. At 5 p. m. I heard that the 
Fawn, which had made connection with the Undine 
in the Dismal Swamp Canal, and the boat I would 
have been aboard had I not been too late for the Un- 
dine, was captured and burned by the Confederates. 
In the evening I went to the theatre. I passed the 
time pleasantly at Norfolk in viewing whatever there 
was of beauty and interest in the place. On Sunday 
morning I attended service at the Episcopal church, 
and also in the evening, in company with Mr. Y., of 
Bellefonte, Center county, Pa. On Monday the 12th, 
and Tuesday 13th, Mr. Y. and I promenaded the 
principal streets and visited places of interest. 

At 6 p. m., Wednesday, September 14, I left Nor- 
folk in the C. V\^ Thomas, which steamed to Fortress 
Monroe, where she arrived at 7)^ p. m., when I got 
aboard the John Farran, and steamed by the way of 
the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Hatteras, through the 
Swash, and through Pamlico sound to Neuse river, 
and thence up to Newbern, where we arrived at 7 p. 
m. of the 15th. Having expended all the money that 
I took w^ith me but a few cents, I felt perplexed as to 
how I should reach the Valley City, which I supposed 
was at the mouth of the Roanoke river, where I had 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 29 

left her; but on going ashore at Newbern, I soon 
learned that she was anchored off that place, having 
steamed there during my absence. I quickly arrived 
aboard her, feeling delighted that I was once more 
among my old naval companions. The next thing of 
interest I learned was, that Newbern was being visited 
by an endemic of yellow fever. 

Having already passed twice through the Dismal 
Swamp Canal, and would have steamed through it 
the third time had I not been too late for the boat that 
was destroyed, but I was destined to pass through it 
still again on my passage home. Lossing, in his his- 
tory of the American Revolution, in volume i, page 
311, gives a very complete description of the Dismal 
Swamp, through which this canal passes. He says: 

" Schemes for internal improvemicnts, for facilitating 
the development of the resources of the country, 
often occupied Washington's most serious attention. 
At the time we are considering, he was engaged, with 
some other enterprising gentlemen, in a project to 
drain the Dismal Swamp, an immense morass lying 
partly in Virginia and partly in North Carolina, and 
extending thirty miles from north to south, and ten 
miles from east to west. Within its dark bosom, and 
nowhere appearing above its surface, are the sources 
of five navigable rivers and several creeks ; and in its 
centre is a body of water known as Drummond's 
lake, so named from its alleged discoverer. A great 
portion of the morass is covered with tall cypresses, 
cedars, hemlocks, and junipers, draped with long 



30 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

mosses, and covered with creeping vines. In many 
places it is made impassable by fallen trees, thick 
brakes, and a dense growth of shrubbery. Thomas 
Moore, who visited it in 1804, has well indicated its 
character in the following stanzas of his legendary 
poem, called ' The Lake of the Dismal Swamp : ' 

*" Away to the Dismal Swamp he speeds — 

His path was rugged and sore ; 
Through tangled juniper, beds of reeds, 
Through many a fen where the serpent feeds, 

And man never trod before ! 

" 'And when on earth he sank to sleep. 

If slumber his eyelids knew, 
He lay where the deadly vine doth weep 
In venomous tears, and nightly steep 

The flesh with blistering dew !' 

" ^ They tell of a young man,' says Moore, in his 
introduction to his poem, ^ who lost his mind upon 
the death of a girl he loved, and who, suddenly dis- 
appearing from his friends, was never afterwards 
heard of. As he frequently said, in his ravings, that 
the girl was not dead, but gone to the Dismal Swamp, 
it was supposed that he had wandered into that dreary 
wilderness, and had died of hunger, or had been lost 
in some of the dreadful morasses.' The poet makes 
him say : 

" * They made her grave too cold and damp. 
For a soul so warm and true, 
And she has gone to the lake of the Dismal Swamp, 
Where all night long by her fire-fly lamp, 
She paddles her white canoe. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 3 1 

'' ' And her fire-fly lamp I soon shall see, 
And her paddles I soon shall hear ; 
Long and loving our life shall be, 
And ril hide the maid in a cypress-tree, 
When the footsteps of Death are near!' 

^^ Towards the southern portion of the swamp there 
is a tract covered with reeds, without any trees. 
These are continually green, and, as they wave in the 
wind, have the appearance of water. On that account 
it is called ' The Green Sea.' The eastern borders of 
the swamp are covered with tall reeds, closely inter- 
laced with thorny bamboo-briers, and present almost 
an impassable barrier even to the vv^ild beasts that 
prowl there. Into this dism.al region Washington 
penetrated, on foot and on horseback, until he 
reached the lake in its centre. He circumtraversed 
this lake, in a journey of almost twenty miles, somxC- 
, times over a quaking bog, and at others in m.ud and 
w^ater; and just at sunset he reached the solid earth 
on the margin of the swamp, where he passed the 
night. The next day he completed his explorations, 
and having observed the soil, its productions, the 
lake and its -altitude, he returned home, convinced 
that the immense morass might be easily drained, 
for it lay considerably higher than the surrounding 
country. Through his influence the Virginia Legis- 
lature gave a charter to an association of gentlemen 
who constituted the ' Dismal Swamp Company.' 
Some, less sanguine of success than Washington, 
withheld their co-operation, and the project was aban- 
doned for the time. 



32 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

'' It was reserved for the enterprise of a later day to 
open the Dismal Swamp to the hand of industry. A 
canal now passes through it from north to south, upon 
the bosom of which im.mense quantities of shingles 
and lumber are floated to accessible deposits. By that 
canal the swamp m.ight be easily drained, and con- 
verted into fine tillable land. To every visitor there, 
the wisdom and forecast of Washington, in suggest- 
ing such improvement a hundred years ago, is most 
remarkably manifest." 

Friday, September i6, 1864. — The Valley City left 
Newbern at 4 o'clock p. m., with Paymaster Louis 
Sands of the United States steamer Shamrock aboard, 
and arrived at Roanoke Island on the 17th, at ii a. 
m., and at 2^ p. m. left Roanoke Island. At 9 p. m. 
arrived at the fleet, and put stores, which the Valley 
City had conveyed from Newbern, aboard the Sham- 
rock. On the 1 8th, at 6^4 p. ni., left the mouth of 
Roanoke Island to go on an expedition up the 
Chowan river, and arrived at Winton, on the right 
bank of the river, at the junction of Meherrin river, at 
8 o'clock a. m. of the 19th. Winton was entirely de- 
stroyed in the early part of the war, leaving nothing 
but here and there a wall, a chimney, or foundation 
wall standing. An armed party went ashore and 
captured some cotton, and came in contact with some 
Confederate pickets, with whom they had 'a little skir- 
mish, or exchange of shots. We left Winton at 4 
o'clock p. m., and arrived off' Edenton at 9 o'clock p. 
m., where we anchored for the night. At 7 o'clock a. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 33 

m. of the 20th we got under weigh, and proceeded to 
the fleet, where we arrived at 9 o'clock a. m. At i p. 
m. we steamed' to the mouth of Roanoke river, where 
we anchored. On the 22d we got under weigh, and 
at 1:35 p. m. arrived at Edenton. Captain J. A. J. 
Brooks, Acting Assistant Paymaster J. W. Sands and 
myself went ashore, and called on Mr. Samuel B.'s 
family, and spent a very pleasant time. At 3:40 p. 
m. we returned aboard, and proceeded to our old an- 
chorage at the mouth of Roanoke river. The weather 
was cloudy and hazy. On Friday 23d, at 12^ p. m., 
the ram Albemarle made her appearance at the 
mouth of Roanoke river. We immediately fired our 
signal gun, and got under weigh, and steamed towards 
the United States steamer Otsego, com-manded by 
Captain Arnold, which was anchored further .down 
the Albemarle Sound. As we passed the Otsego, 
Captain Arnold ordered the Valley City to steam as 
rapidly as possible towards the fleet, and the Otsego 
would follow after. We soon met the fleet steaming 
towards the mouth of Roanoke river. The Valley 
City and Otsego soon fell into line, and arrived at the 
mouth of Roanoke river. By this time the ram had 
returned up the river. The fleet remained recon- 
noitering at the mouth of the river till 6 p. m., when 
it returned to its old anchorage. The appearance of 
the ram at the mouth of Roanoke river caused some 
excitement aboard the fleet, for we were anxious to 
have the ram come out into Albemarle Sound, so as- 
to have a chance, if possible, to sink her. On the 

3^ 



34 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

27th, at II i^ a. m., the Valley City steamed down to 
Edenton, and remained there two hours, and came 
back to our old anchorage. 

On the 29th, at ^}4 o'clock a. m., the Valley City 
weighed anchor, and proceeded to and up Scupper- 
nong river. At ii^^ o'clock a. m. we got aground in 
a position transversely across the river, with the 
stern of the vessel towards the left bank. About 
seven hundred yards distant on the left bank of 
the river, in the bushes and wood, a concealed Con- 
federate battery was situated. In making an effort to 
get afloat, the guns of the Valley City were run out 
of position, the decks were crowded with hawsers and 
ropes, and the propeller had a hawser tangled in it ; 
so that the steamer was in a very helpless and dan- 
gerous position. We were not aware that this battery 
was situated in the place named till at 3^^ p. m. they 
opened fire on the Valley City, and continued firing 
till half past 5 o'clock p. m. It was some time before 
the Valley City could clear her decks and get into 
position to bring the guns to bear on the enemy. In 
the meantime Commodore W. H. IMacomb sent 
orders to Captain J. A. J. Brooks to blow the Valley 
City up and leave her as best we could; but when the 
Valley City got her guns to bear on the enemy's bat- 
tery, they were silenced at 5 i^ p. m. The shells and 
bullets from the Confederate batteries ashore fell 
around us fast and thick, but fortunately nobody 
aboard was seriously injured, notwithstanding the 
vessel was struck several times by shell, and also by 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 35 

a number of bullets. At 9:20 o'clock p. m., after 
throwing coal overboard, emptying the boiler, and 
with the assistance of the tug Belle, which came up, 
we got afloat, and were towed by the tug Belle down 
into Albemarle Sound, along side of the Otsego. On 
the 30th the hawser was taken out of the propeller. 
At 1:15 p. m. the Valley City got under weigh, and 
steamed alongside of the Tacony for coal. 

I append an extract from the North Carolina Con- 
federate^ published at Raleigh, N. C, bearing on the 
brush up the Scuppernong river : 

-'^ BRUSH WITH THE YANKEE GUNBOATS. _ 

'^The Goldsborough State journal gives an account 
of quite a spirited little brush between a small de- 
tachment of our troops and some of the Yankee gun- 
boats, which attempted to go up the Scuppernong 
river, in which the Yankees came out second best. 

" On attempting to ascend the river, two boats were 
attacked and forced back by Lieutenant Sharp, com- 
manding Captain Pitt's company of cavalry, assisted 
by two pieces of artillery under Lieutenant Williams 
of Lee's light battery, and Lieutenant McWaston of 
the 50th North Carolina regiment, with thirty in- 
fantry. 

'' One of the boats got aground at the mouth of 
the river, about seven hundred yards from the shore, 
where she was well peppered for some time by both 
our artillery and sharpshooters, one shot striking her 
near the water-line. 



36 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

'^ So hot was the fire upon this craft that the 
Yankees were all driven from their guns. 

" Three more gunboats at length came up to their 
relief, and opened fiercely on our little party, who 
courageously held their ground and fought them, till 
the approach of night and scarcity of ammunition 
admonished us to retire beyond the range of the 
enemy's guns. 

" We had three men slightly wounded, and one 
howitzer was somewhat damaged by a shell. 

" The enemy's loss has not been ascertained, but it 
must have been considerable, as their wooden gunboat 
was aground and under the fire of our artillery for 
some three hours, and it was well ascertained that 
every man had to seek shelter below from the deadly 
aim of our sharpshooters. 

'^ Hit him again. Colonel W." 

Mr. Milton Webster, Executive Officer of the Val- 
ley City, says of this ^* brush " with the Confederates ; 

*' It is a pity about that ' deadly ai7n'^ for we did not 
have a man injured, and one of the men and myself 
were over the stern exposed to their guns, and though 
their shot fell all around us, we were not struck. A 
pretty correct account of the time of the action and 
position of the Valley City is given, but there was not 
a man left his station during the action, although their 
sharpshooters fired at and left marks of their bullets 
all round our port-holes, and the gangway to which 
we afterwards shifted a gun to bear on them. 

" The three other boats did not even get within 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 3/ 

range of the enemy, on account of drawing too much 
water. They, however, fired one shot at long range, 
after the enemy had retired, and this shot was made 
merely to get the range of the enemy in case another 
attack should be made on the Valley City before she 
got afloat. One of the two boats they speak of was 
a tug-boat that went with the Valley City up the 
river to assist her to get afloat in case she got 
aground, and was manned by two officers — one an 
ensign, the other an engineer — and five men. The 
tug-boat was not armed. 

*' It is very singular that they, in their account of 
the brush, should italicize the word wooden^ as much 
as to say we had an iron-clad. 

"" I saved one of their shells that lit on the deck of 
the Valley City, which fortunately did not explode. 
If the Valley City had been afloat, she would have 
silenced their batteries sooner." 

On Saturday, October i, at 4 o'clock a. m., the 
Valley City got under weigh, and steamed to Eden- 
ton. Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Acting Master James 
G. Green, j. W. Sands and myself went ashore, and 
visited Mr. Samuel B's, and spent the time very pleas- 
antly. At 4 o'clock p. m. we returned to the Valley 
City, and got under weigh, and proceeded to our old 
station at the mouth of the Roanoke river. On the 
3d, the U, S. steamers Commodore Hull and Tacony 
and the tug Belle came up and anchored near us. On 
the 6th, I was ordered aboard the Otsego, to hold a 
medical survey on one of the officers of that vessel, for 



38 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

the purpose of sending him to the U. S. Naval Hos- 
pital at Norfolk. When I returned aboard the Valley 
City, I found a refugee aboard, suffering from yellow 
fever. She was taken to Edenton aboard the Valley 
City, where she died of the disease. We called on Mr. 
Samuel B.'s family. At 5^ o'clock p. m. we got 
under weigh, and proceeded towards Roanoke Island. 
At 12 p. m. we anchored. Early in the morning of 
the 7th, we steamed to off Roanoke Island, where we 
arrived at 8 o'clock a. m. On the 8th there was a 
breeze from the northwest, and the day was clear and 
beautiful. At 2 o'clock p. m.. Paymaster J. W. Sands, 
Acting Master's mate John Maddock, and myself, 
with six men, sailed in a small boat to Roanoke 
Island. There was a heavy sea, and the wind was 
blowing quite a gale. We landed at Roanoke Island, 
but did not remain long ashore before we took the 
boat for the purpose of sailing back to the Valley 
City. We did not succeed. We then took the sails 
down, and the men rowed us to the vessel. 

On the 9th, at 6 o'clock a. m., we got under weigh, 
and steamed up to the mouth of the Alligator river, 
where we arrived at 9 o'clock a. m. The Shamrock 
was lying close by. The weather was cold. At 1:30 
o'clock p. m., the Valley City proceeded up the Alli- 
gator river. At 7 p. m. we anchored off Newport 
News. On the loth, at 4 a. m., two armed boat's 
crews v/ere sent ashore on a reconnoitering expedi- 
tion, but returned at i p. m. without accomplishing 
anything. At 2 p. m. the Valley City got under 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 39 

weigh, and proceeded down Alligator river, and 
anchored at 3 p, m. The weather is' cool, and there 
was frost last night. 

Thursday, October iith^ at 5 a. m., the launches 
were ordered up Frying-pan river. At 10 a. m. I 
went with Captain J. A. J. Brooks in pursuit of the 
launches, and after rowing about six miles we came in 
sight of them. At 2^ p. m. we returned w^ith the 
launches. At 4 p, m, the Valley City weighed anchor, 
and at 8 p. m. anchored in Albemarle Sound. On the 
1 2th, at 6 a. m., we got under weigh, and arrived at 
the fleet at 8 a. m. At 9 a, m. we got under weigh, 
and at 10 a. m. arrived at the mouth of Roanoke 
river. The ram was expected to come out to-day. 
On the 15th, at 11}^ a. m., the Valley City got under 
weigh, and arrived off Edenton at ii^ o'clock p. m. 
Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Paymaster J, W. Sands, and 
Acting Master James G. Green, went ashore. At 5 
p. m. they returned, and the Valley City got under 
weigh, and proceeded to the mouth of Roanoke river. 
The weather is cool and beautiful. At 10 a. m. of the 
20th, I went aboard the Commodore Hull. At 12 
m., returned aboard the Valley City. At 9^ p. m., 
the Valley City steamed to off Edenton, to protect 
the tug Belle, which had got hard and fast aground 
during the day. On the 21st I went ashore at Eden- 
ton, and spent a pleasant time. I returned to the 
Valley City, when she proceeded to off Roanoke 
Island, where we arrived on the 22d at 8 o'clock a. 
m. At 9 o'clock a. m., Captain J. A. J, Brooks, Act- 



40 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

ing Assistant Paymaster J. W. Sands and I went 
ashore, and made the acquaintance of Dr. Walton, of 
the 103d Pennsylvania regiment, and Colonel Ward- 
robe, Commandant of Roanoke Island. I spent a 
very pleasant time in company with these gentlemen. 
In the evening; I became acquainted with Lieutenant 
Wm. B, Cushing, U. S. Navy, I will quote a war 
reminiscence which was pulished in the Philadelphia 
Weekly Times of June 7, 1879: 

''gushing, the brave. 

'' Reminiscence of His He7'oic AdvejiUcre in Albenia7'le Soimd : 
By 7. M. Batten, M, D., late U. S. N^ 

''It was on the evening of October 22d, 1864, I 
jfirst met Captain Wm. B. Cushing. I was then at- 
tached to the United States steamer Valley City, 
Captain J. A. J. Brooks commanding. The vessel 
was anchored about a mile west of Roanoke Island, 
in Pamlico Sound. Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Pay- 
master J. W. Sands and myself, left the vessel in the 
morning, the wind blowing a strong breeze from the 
west, and arrived at Roanoke Island. The wind con- 
tinuing to blow almost a hurricane, we attempted to 
return to the vessel in the evening, but failed ; conse- 
quently we were compelled to remain on Roanoke 
Island all night. As I said, it was on this evening I 
first met Captain Wm. B. Cushing. He then was a 
young man of twenty-one or twenty-two years of age, 
wore long, light hair falling around his neck, and v/as 
rather reserved in his manners. Captain Cushing, 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 4 1 

Captain Brooks, Paymaster Sands and myself, occu- 
pied a room together that night. The next morning 
when I awoke, I found that Captain Cushing had 
gone. Upon making inquiry about him, I learned he 
had departed at 4 a. m. of the 23d, in his torpedo 
launch, a boat he had constructed at the Navy Yard, 
Brooklyn, for a certain purpose, and had proceeded 
this far on his expedition w^ith the steam launch. 

''In referring to my diary, I find that on Friday, 
October 28, at 5:30 a, m.., the Valley City weighed 
anchor and proceeded tow^ard the fleet. The weather 
w^as clear but v/indy. We arrived at the fleet at 6 
p.m. The fleet w^as composed of twelve double-ender 
side-wheel vessels, manned, armed and equipped, and 
commanded by Commodore Wm. H. ?^Iacomb, and 
w^as anchored about six miles from the m.outh of 
Roanoke river, in Albemarle Sound, and fourteen 
miles from Plymouth, w^here the Albemarle was 
stationed. My diary states that at 7 p. m. we got 
under weigh, and proceeded to the mouth of Roanoke 
river, where we arrived at 8:30 p. m.. At 1 1 p. m. 
w^e were hailed by a voice at the mouth of Roanoke 
river : '' Boat ahoy ! send a boat ! " A boat w^as sent, 
and the man who had left us so early in the morning 
of the 23d of October — Captain William B. Cushing 
— was brought on board the Valley City in his stock- 
ing feet, with only a coarse flannel shirt and panta- 
loons to cover him. He w^as w^et, cold, tired, hungry 
and prostrated. 

"My diary states that after leaving us on the morn- 



42 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

ing of the 23d of October he steamed to the fleet in 
his torpedo launch, having received from the crews 
of the fleet tweh^e volunteer men to accompany him. 
On the evening of October 27th he proceeded with 
his small torpedo launch, with a torpedo rigged on 
her bow, up the Roanoke river. x\t 3:15 a. m., Oc- 
tober 28th, exploded torpedo under the ram Albe- 
marle and sunk her. He (Captain Gushing) and an- 
other man were the only ones saved from drowning 
or capture. Captain Cushing, after blowing up the 
ram, jumped into the river, swam ashore, lay in the 
swamps near Plymouth till night, then proceeded 
through the swamps till he came to a creek, where he 
captured a skiff belonging to a Confederate picket, 
and paddled himself to the Valley City. The tor- 
pedo boat was sunk, and about a dozen men were 
either drowned or captured. In the meantime, the 
fleet had moved up to the mouth of Roanoke river. 
Upon learning that Captain Cushing was on board 
the Valley City, Commodore ilacomb ordered the 
riggings of the fl_eet to be manned, and at the general 
signal to give Captain Cushing three hearty good 
cheers; and such cheering — it made those swamps, 
forests and waters resound with the voices of glad- 
hearted m.en. * 

'' On the following day, October 29th, at 1 1 o'clock 
a. m., the fleet weighed anchor with eveiy man at his 
post, and proceeded up Roanoke river, the Valley 
City leading, for the purpose of confirming the report 
of Captain Cushing that the Albemarle ram was sunk; 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 43 

and, if true, capturing Plymouth. This is a small 
town situated on the right bank of the Roanoke 
river, eight miles from its mouth, surrounded by 
swamps and large cypress trees as far as the eye can 
reach. One mile above Plymouth the waters of the 
Roanoke river divide, one forming the Cashie river, 
the other the Roanoke river. At about two-thirds 
of the distance from the mouth of the Roanoke river 
to Plymouth, the Cashie river and the Roanoke river 
are connected by what is called Middle river, so that 
these rivers in their course at these points formed a 
figure resembling the capital letter A, the left line the 
Roanoke river, the right line the Cashie river, and the 
horizontal line the Middle river. 

*' The fleet steamed up Roanoke river. The day 
was beautiful, the birds were singing in the branches 
of the trees, the leaves of which were gently rustling, 
and the water could be heard dripping from the 
wheels of the fleet as they made their slow revolu- 
tions. All else was quiet. No man said a word. 
This was not strange, for w^e believed the river to be 
full of torpedoes and its banks lined with sharp- 
shooters. We ascended further and further up the 
river till we came to Middle river, when the Valley 
City steamed through Middle and up the Cashie 
river. The remainder of the fleet steamed on up 
Roanoke river. 

'' After arriving at a point in the Cashie river oppo- 
site Plymouth, we heard heavy firing by the fleet, 
which continued an hour, and then suddenly ceased. 



44 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

We thought, of course, that Plymouth had been cap- 
tured. At this point we picked up the other man 
who was with the expedition, and who escaped. The 
Valley City continued to ascend the Cashie river, and 
after encountering much difficulty on account of the 
narrowness and crookedness of the river, we arrived 
at the Roanoke river above Plymouth, where we 
could see the town, but we could see no fleet nor 
American flag. We concluded then that the Albe- 
marle had not been sunk, but had driven the fleet 
back into the Sound. Of course, it was not a very 
happy feeling to fear the ram might prevent our 
retreat. 

*^ After some delay, and an exchange of shot with 
the enemy at Plymouth, we descended the Cashie 
river to Albemarle Sound, where we arrived at 8 p. 
m., and found the fleet at the mouth of Roanoke 
river. They had ascended the Roanoke river till they 
came to some obstruction which placed them at a 
disadvantage to the enemy; they then descended the 
river. 

" Commodore Macomb was nov/ convinced that the 
ram Albemarle was sunk. The Valley City was now 
detached to convey Captain Cushing to Fortress 
Monroe. We weighed anchor at 12:30 a. m., Octo- 
ber 30th, and proceeded through Albemarle and 
Pamlico Sounds, and into the Atlantic Ocean, and 
arrived at Fortress Monroe at 7 a. m., November i. 
A fleet of about one hundred vessels was stationed 
there, preparatory to making an onslaught on Wil- 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 45 

mington. Captain Wm. B. Gushing was received on 
board the flagship with a salute of twenty-one guns, 
and, of course, was almost worshiped for his heroic 
achievement. It was at Fortress Monroe I first saw 
the United States steamer Kearsarge, of Commodore 
Winslow and Alabama fame. My attention was di- 
rected to her by hearing an old sailor say, ^ Does she 
not sit like a duck on water ? ' And truly she did. 

"Captain Cushing is now dead. He certainly was 
one of the bravest men that ever trod the decks of a 
man-of-war. Peace to his ashes ! Commodore Ma- 
comb is also dead ; he died in your city of Brotherly 
Love, while taking a bath. We all loved him. God 
bless him." 

Published in the New York Herald, Thursday, November 3, 1864. 

THE RAM ALBEMARLE. 

DESTRUCTION OF THE FAMOUS REBEL IRON-CLAD — THE RAM 
SUNK BY A TORPEDO — DESTRUCTION OF THE TORPEDO 
BOAT — TERRIBLE MUSKETRY FIRE — ESCAPE OF LIEU- 
TENANT CUSHING -HIS ADVENTURES IN THE 
SWAMP — FULL AND INTERESTING DE- 
TAILS OF HIS BRILLIANT ACHIEVE- 
MENT — THE CASUALTIES — 
ETC,, ETC., ETC. 

LIEUTENANT CUSHING's OFFICIAL REPORT. 

Washington, November 2, 1864. 
Admiral Porter has communicated to the Secretary 
of the Navy the following interesting particulars from 
Lieutenant Cushing, in regard to the sinking of the 
rebel ram Albemarle : 



46 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

''Albemarle Sound, October 30, 1864. 

'* Sir : I have the honor to report that the rebel 
ram Albemarle is at the bottom of Roanoke river. 

'' On the night of the 27th, having prepared my 
steam launch, I proceeded towards Plymouth with 
thirteen officers and men, partly volunteers from the 
squadron. 

" The distance from the mouth of the river to the 
ram was about eight miles, the stream averaging in 
v/idth some two hundred yards, and lined with the 
enemy's pickets. 

*'A mile below the town was the wreck of the 
Southfield, surrounded by some schooners, and it was 
understood that a gun was mounted there to com- 
mand the bend. I therefore took one of the Sham- 
rock's cutters in tow, with orders to cast off and board 
at that point in case we were hailed. 

'' Our boat succeeded in passing the pickets, and 
even the Southfield within twenty yards, without dis- 
covery, and we were not hailed until by the lookouts 
on the ram. 

'' The cutter was then cut off and ordered below, 
while we made for our enemy under a full head of 
steam. The rebels sprang their rattle, rang the bell 
and commenced firing, at the same time repeating 
their hail, and seeming much confused. 

'' The light of the fire ashore showed me the iron- 
clad made fast to the wharf, with logs around her, 
about thirty feet from her side. Passing her closely, 
we made a complete circle, so as to strike her fairly, 
and w^ent into her bows on. 



IN THE UNITED STAETS NAVY. 47 

'' By this time the enemy's fire was very severe, but 
a dose of canister at short range seemed to moderate 
their zeal and disturb their aim. 

*' Paymaster Swann, of the Ostego, was wounded 
near me, but how many more I know not. Three 
bullets struck my clothing, and the air seemed full of 
them. 

-*In a moment we had struck the logs just abreast 
of the quarter post, breaking them in some feet, our 
bows resting on them. The torpedo boom was then 
lowered, and by a vigorous pull I succeeded in diving 
the torpedo under the over-hang and exploding it. 

''At the same time the Albemarle's guns were 
fired. A shot seemed to go crashing through my 
boat, and a dense mass of water rolled in from the 
torpedo, filling the launch, and completely disabling 
her. 

"The enemy then continued their fire at fifteen feet 
range, and demanded our surrender, which I twice 
refused, ordering the men to save themselves, and re- 
moving my overcoat and shoes. Springing into the 
river, I swam with others into the middle of the 
stream, the rebels failing to hit us. 

" The most of our party were captured ; some were 
drowned, and only one escaped besides myself, and 
he in another direction. 

'' Acting Master's mate, Woodman, of the Commo- 
dore Hull, met me in the water half a mile below the 
town, and I assisted him as best I could, but failed to 
get him ashore. Completely exhausted, I managed 



48 REMINISCE^XES OF TWO YEARS. 

to reach the shore, but was too weak to crawl out of 
the water until just at daylight, when I managed to 
creep into the swamp close to the fort. 

*' While hiding close to the path, the Albemarle's 
officers passed, and I judged from their conversation 
that the ram was destroyed. Some hours traveling 
in the swamp served to bring me out well below the 
the town, when I sent a negro in to gain information, 
and found that the ram was truly sunk. Proceeding 
through another swamp, I came to a creek, and cap- 
tured a skiff belonging to a picket of the enemy, and 
with this, by eleven o'clock the next night, I made my 
way out to the Valley City. 

''Acting Master's mate, William L. Howorth, of 
the Monticello, showed as usual conspicuous bravery. 
He is the same officer who has been with me twice in 
Wilmington Harbor. I trust he may be promoted 
when exchanged, as well as Acting Third Assistant 
Engineer Stolsbury, who, being for the first time 
under fire, handled his engine promptly and with 
coolness. All the officers and men behaved in the 
most gallant manner. 

'' The cutter of the Shamrock boarded the South- 
field, but found no guns there. Four prisoners were 
taken there. The ram is now completely submerged, 
and the enem.y have sunk three schooners in the river 
to obstruct the passage of our ships. 

'' I desire to call the attention of the Admiral and 
departmicnt to the spirit manifested by the sailors on 
the ships in these sounds. But few hands were 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 49 

wanted, but all hands were eager to go into the 
action, offering their chosen shipmates a month's pay 
to resign in their favor. 

*' I am sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, 

" W. B. Gushing, U. S. N. 
*'Rear Admiral D. D. Porter, Commanding the North 
Atlantic Squadron." 

'' The name of the man who escaped was William 
Hoffman, seaman on the Chicopee. He did his duty 
well, and deserves a medal of honor. 
'' Respectfully, 

''Wm. B. Gushing, U. S. N." 

the herald despatches. 

[Mr. Galen H. Osborn's Despatch] 

''Fortress Monroe, Va., November i, 1864. 

" The United States steamer Valley Gity arrived at 
Hampton Roads from the blockading squadron of the 
Sounds of North Garolina, this morning. She brings 
the glorious tidings of the destruction of the rebel 
iron-clad ram Albemarle. The terror of the Sounds 
is at the bottom of Roanoke river. She was blown 
up by a torpedo early on the morning of the 28th 
ultimo ; and her destruction is due to the personal 
heroism and reckless daring of Lieut. W. B. Gushing, 
of the Navy. All the particulars I have been able to 
collect concerning this feat, which stands prominently 
forth as one of the most gallant of the war, I hasten 
to forward for the information of the Heralds readers. 

"On the night of Thursday, October 27, Lieuten- 
ant Gushing, who has on several previous occasions 
3 



50 KEMINISCEN'CES OF TWO YEARS 

especially distinguished himself, manned a steam- 
launch with a party of thirteen officers and men, 
mostly volunteers, and proceeded, under cover of the 
darkness, up the river towards Plymouth. Eight 
miles from the mouth of the stream the Albemarle 
lay, surroumded by a pen of logs and timber, estab- 
lished to prevent her destruction by torpedoes. 

"As he approached this framework, Lieut. Gushing 
was discovered by the officers of the ram, who hailed 
him. He gave no answer, the enemy meantime main- 
taining against him a severe and galling fire, to which 
he replied effectively with frequent doses of canister. 
Finding that he could not approach the ram as he de- 
sired, a complete circle was made by the Lieutenant, 
and the launch was again brought fairly against the 
"crib," bows on, pushing back a portion of it, and 
leaving the bovv^s of the launch resting on the broken 
timbers. 

"At this moment, by a most vigorous effort, Lieut. 
Gushing succeeded in driving a torpedo under the 
over-hang of the ram, and exploded it. Simultan- 
eously with the explosion, one of the Albemarle's 
guns was fired, and the shot went crashing through 
the launch. At the same instant a dense volume of 
water from the torpedo came rushing into the launch, 
utterly disabling her. 

"Lieut. Gushing then ordered his men to save 
themselves. He himself threw off his coat and shoes 
and sprang into the water. Several of his men were 
captured and some were drowned, but I have not been 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 5 1 

able to ascertain his exact loss. Lieut. Gushing, 
taking to the swamp, managed to secrete himself from 
the enemy's pickets, and brought up alongside of the 
steamer Valley City at about 1 1 o'clock the next 
night, in a small skiff which he discovered and appro- 
priated on his way. 

'^The steamer Valley City brought Lieutenant 
Cashing as a passenger, and he reported in person to 
the Admiral the accomplishment of the daring mis- 
sion he was specially selected to perform. Though 
much fatigued by the severities of his recent task, he 
is yet in good health and spirits, and is at this mo- 
ment the hero of the squadron. He is the same 
officer that went to Smithville and captured General 
Whiting's chief of staff, v/hile a regiment of troops 
was quartered in the buildings on the opposite side 
of the way. It w^as he who took a small boat up 
the Wilmington river, past the forts and batteries, 
landed and captured a rebel mail, staid three days in 
the enemy's country, and finally came away in safety 
with his trophies. But this last act of his stamps him 
as one of the most daring men in the service. To 
attack an iron-clad like the Albemarle, with a launch 
and a baker's dozen of men, w^ould seem the height of 
reckless folly; but to have succeeded in such an enter- 
prise, is to have earned a life lease of glory. 

" In the affair, paymaster Swann, of the Otsego, is 
known to have been wounded, and master's mate 
Howarth, of the Monticello, captured. Lieut. Gush- 
ing speaks very highly of the conduct of all w^ho 
were with him. 



52 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

*' The destruction of the ram was not definitely 
known until the following day, the 29th, when 
negroes sent to gain information returned with the 
glorious news. Reports from other quarters corrob- 
orated this intelligence, and finally a reconnoissance 
by the Valley City revealed the Albemarle resting on 
the bottom, with only her smoke-stack visible above 
the water. 

'' The yellow fever is said not to have entirely dis- 
appeared from Newbern, although the succession of 
sharp frosts in that vicinity has somewhat dispelled 
it. The steamer John Farron left for that port yes- 
terday, taking an immense mail, and a number of 
officers who have been congregating here for some 
time, waiting for the sickly season to terminate." 

[Mr. Oscar G. Sawyer's Despatch ] 

''Hampton Roads, Va., November i, 1864. 
''The most audacious, brilliant and successful affair 
of the war, occurred in the waters of North Carolina 
last week, in which, after the briefest contest, but one 
as it will prove of the best results, the rebel iron-clad 
ram Albemarle was effectually destroyed and sent to 
the bottom by a torpedo discharged by Lieutenant 
William B. Cushing, of the Navy. The great mailed 
monster that has so long excited the apprehensions of 
the Navy Department, and held in the Sound a force 
greatly in excess of that which was usually stationed 
there, now lies quietly at the bottom of the Roanoke 
river, a subject of curious contemplation and dread to 
the fish that frequent these waters. In the squadron 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 53 

every one feels a sense of relief in realizing the fact 
that the Albemarle is no longer afloat, or capable of 
doing further damage ; for it is no secret that she was 
one of the toughest customers for wooden vessels to 
confront that has yet floated. Her raid on the flotilla, 
on the 5th of last May, proved that fact beyond a 
shadow of a doubt. She then encountered and fought 
to great advantage three heavily armed double-enders 
— the Sassacus, Mattabessett and Wyalusing — and re- 
tired, after a long contest, but slightly damaged. 
While she floated, no post held by us and accessible 
to her was safe. She could go her way as she chose, 
in spite of the efforts of our wooden vessels, unless 
some accident occurred to her which should prevent 
her steaming. None of the light-draft monitors were 
ready to confront her, and she threatened to clear our 
forces out of the State of North Carolina. 

"Such was the state of affairs subsequent to the 
5th of May. Our squadron in Albemarle Sound had 
been largely increased by the addition of several light 
draught, heavily-armed vessels; but, even with these, 
it was somewhat doubtful whether the possession of 
the Sound was insured us; so it was determined to 
get rid of the monster in some more expeditious and 
certain way. 

"Lieutenant William B. Gushing, a young officer of 
great bravery, coolness and resource, submitted a 
project to Admiral Lee, in June last, by which he 
hoped, if successfully carried out, to rid the Sound of 
the Albemarle, and insure us its possession. Ad- 



54 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

miral Lee entered warmly into the scheme, as did the 
Navy Department, which immediately detached Lieu- 
tenant Gushing from the Monticello, and placed him 
on special duty, at the same time giving him every 
facility to carry out the object in view. 

"Lieutenant Gushing at once proceeded to New 
York, and in conjunction with Admiral Gregory, 
Gaptain Boggs, and Ghief Engineer Wm. W. W. 
Wood, fitted one of the new steam picket boats, 
which is about the size of a frigate launch, with a 
torpedo arrangement, and then took her down into 
the Sound for duty. Having made several recon- 
noissances up the Roanoke river, which gave him 
some valuable information, and having perfected his 
arrangements, on the night of the 27th ultimo he got 
under way from the squadron off the mouth of the 
river, and steamed boldly up stream. In the steam 
launch were Lieutenant Gushing, Paymaster T. H. 
Swann, a volunteer from the Otsego, Master's Mate 
W. L. Howorth, of the gunboat Monticello, and 
Third Assistant Engineer Stolsbury, in charge of the 
engine, with a crew of ten men, nearly all of whom 
volunteered for the service. An armed cutter of the 
Shamrock, with an officer and ten men, was towed 
along for the purpose of attending to some of the 
minor details of the v/ork. It was known that the 
enemy had pickets along the river banks, and on the 
wreck of the gunboat Southfield sunk by the Albe- 
marle last spring, and which lay about a mile below 
the town of Plymouth. The pickets, who were in the 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 55 

habit of stationing themselves on the hurricane deck 
of the Southneld — the only portion of the wreck 
above water — were to be turned over to the care of 
the Shamrock's cutter when the proper time came, 
Vv'hilst those along the river were to be passed in 
silence, and without giving alarm, if possible. 

*'At about midnight the little picket-boat entered 
the narrow river, and steam^ed silently and cautiously 
up without giving the least alarm. The Southfield 
and three schooners alongside of her, engaged in 
raising her up, w^ere passed at a short distance — 
almost within biscuit-toss — without challenge or hail. 
It was not till Lieutenant Gushing reached within 
pistol-shot of the Albemarle, which lay alongside of 
the dock at Plym.outh, that he v%^as hailed, and then in 
an uncertain sort of way, as though the lookouts 
doubted the accuracy of their vision. He made no 
reply, but continued to press towards the rebel mon- 
ster, and was for the second time hailed. He paid no 
attention to the challenge, but kept straight on his 
way, first detaching the Shamrock's cutter, to go 
below and secure the rebel pickets on the Southfield. 

'' In another instant, as he closed in on the ram Al- 
bemarle, the rebel Captain Walley, in a very digni- 
fied, pompous, studied manner, shouted, 'What boat 
is that?' The reply was an invitation for him to 

go to ! Thereupon arose a terrible clamor. 

The rattle Vv^as vigorously sprung, the bells on the 
ship were sharply rung, and hands Vv^ere called to 
quarters, evidently in great consternation and some 



56 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

confusion. A musketry fire was immediately opened 
on the torpedo-boat, and a charge of canister was 
fired, injuring some of the crew. Along the dock to 
which the Albemarle was tied, were a large number of 
soldiers, evidently stationed there to guard against a 
landing of our force after a surprise ; and in front of 
their lines blazed cheerily up a number of their camp 
fires, which threw a strong light on the rebel vessel 
and the bosom of the river. By the aid of this glare 
Lieutenant Gushing discovered the raft of floating 
timbers which surrounded the ram on the accessible 
sides, to guard against the approach of rams and tor- 
pedoes ; and by the aid of the same light he plainly 
saw the large body of soldiers thronging to the 
wharf and blazing away at his boat. To quiet these 
fellows, he brought the bow of his boat around a 
little, and discharged a heavy stand of canister into 
them from his twelve-pounder howitzer mounted at 
the bow, and sent them flying. Making a complete 
circle under a scorching musketry fire, at less than 
thirty yards, he came around, bow on, at full steam, 
and struck the floating guard of timbers, pressing 
them towards the hull of the ram. His boat soon 
lost headway, and came to a standstill, refusing to 
back off or move ahead. The moment for decisive 
action had now arrived The enemy fired muskets 
and pistols almost in his face, from the ports of the 
ram, and from the hundred small arms on shore. 
Several of his men were injured, and Paymaster 
Swann had fallen severely wounded. The officers 



IX THE UNITED STATES NAYY, 57 

and crew of the Albemarle cried out : ^ Now we've 
got him! Surrender! surrender! or we Vv'ill blow you 
to pieces ! ' The case looked desperate, indeed ; but 
Lieutenant Gushing was as cool and determined at 
that moment as one could be under the most agree- 
able circumstances. He knew that the decisive mo- 
ment had come, and he did not allow it to glide from 
his hands. He seized the lanyard to the torpedo and 
the line of the spar, and crowding the spar until 
he brought the torpedo under the over-hang of the 
Albemarle, he detached it by one effort, and the next 
second he pulled the lanyard of the torpedo, and ex- 
ploded it under the vessel on her port side, just below 
the port-hole of the two-hundred-pounder Brooke's 
rifle, v/hich at that mxom.ent was discharged at the 
boat. An im.mense volume of water was thrown out 
by the explosion of the torpedo, almost drowning all 
in the steam-launch ; and to add to the peril of the 
moment, the heavy shell from the enemy's gun had 
gone through the bottom of the boat, knocking the 
splinters about in a terrible style. She at at once 
began to sink in the most rapid manner, and Lieuten- 
ant Gushing ordered all hands to save themselves as 
best they might. He divested himself of his coat 
and shoes, and plunged into the river, followed by 
those of his men who were able to do so. All struck 
for the middle of the river under a hot fire of mus- 
ketry, the balls perforating their clothing and striking 
all about them, and in two or three instances, it is 
feared, so badly wounding the swimmers that they 

3* 



58 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

sunk before boats from shore could reach them. 
Lieutenant Gushing heard the rebels take to boats and 
push after the survivors, demanding their surrender. 
Many gave up, but two of his seamen were drowned 
near by him — whether from wounds received or ex- 
haustion, he could not state. Paymaster Swann was 
wounded and is a prisoner ; but how many others fell 
into the rebel hands has not as yet been ascertained. 
Lieutenant Gushing swam down the river half a mile, 
until, exhausted and chilled by the cold water, he was 
compelled to struggle to the shore, which he reached 
about daybreak. After lying in the weeds along the 
river bank for some time, he recovered his strength 
sufficiently to crawl into the swamp further, till day- 
light found him lying in the swamp grass, between 
two paths, and in speaking distance of the enemy's 
fort. While lying there but partially screened by the 
low sedge, he saw rebel officers and men walk by, 
and heard their conversation, which was entirely de- 
voted to the affair of the morning. From their re- 
marks he learned that the torpedo had done its work 
effectively and thoroughly, and that his great object 
was accomplished. He did not learn any of the de- 
tails of the sinking, but heard it stated that the ram 
had gone down by her dock, and was a complete loss. 
He also learned of the capture of the paymaster and 
some others of his crew from the same source. 

" Finding that there was great danger of his detec- 
tion if he remained in his exposed position all day, 
lying within a few yards of two frequented paths, and 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 59 

SO near the river, he began to move slowly away 
towards the swamp. He was obliged to move cau- 
tiously, so he lay on his back, and by pushing his 
heels into the ground, he slowly pushed himself 
along, and after a long and exhausting effort, passed 
over the sixty yards of ground that lay between him 
and better cover. Once concealed, he laid up for the 
day and rested himself. He was fortunate enough 
before midnight to get hold of a negro, whom he sent 
into town to learn the extent of his success. The 
negro obeyed his instructions, and reported that the 
Albemarle was out of sight — ^ clar gone sunk.^ . 

**At night, Lieutenant Gushing struck through the 
swamp, and after the greatest and most exhausting 
toil and pain — as he was in his stocking-feet, and con- 
tinually plunging over roots, briers, logs, oyster-shells, 
and lacerating his flesh severely — he reached a point 
four miles below the town, where he discovered a 
skiff used by a picket. Watching his chance, he 
seized this, and, with a single paddle, paddled off to 
the squadron, four miles distant, which he reached in 
safety. Only one besides himself — William Holton, 
a sailor on the Chicopee, who had volunteered on the 
occasion — returned to the squadron. He was picked 
up by the Valley City, the following day, nearly ex- 
hausted. 

''Lieutenant Gushing immediately came here on 
the special despatch-boat Valley Gity, and reported to 
Admiral D. D. Porter. To-night he will go to Wash- 
ington and report to the Department. He is worn 



60 REMINISCENXES OF TWO YEARS 

out and in need of rest, which we hope he will be 
permitted to enjoy. 

''This last brave and gallant action of his is hkely 
to gain him an advance of one grade in his rank, and 
it will also, if the law is rightly construed, be a great 
financial success, which is somewhat more substantial. 
His share of the prize-money from the Albemarle, if 
she is fairly placed at a valuation, would be in the 
neighborhood of fifty thousand dollars, an acceptable 
sum to any one. Lieutenant Gushing has been or- 
dered to the command of the gun-boat Monticello, 
which will await him until his return from a short 
leave. 

''The destruction of the Albemarle will release the 
large squadron of powerful light-draught vessels 
which have, since her debut last May, been maintained 
in the Sound. They can go elsewhere nov\'. 

" On a reconnoissance by the Valley City, to within 
a mile of Plymouth, it was discovered that the enemy 
had sunk the schooners which were engaged in at- 
tempting to raise the Southfield, directly across the 
channel, thus temporarily blockading the river. Al- 
' though the town v/as in sight, not a trace could be 
seen of the rebel ram ; and it is proved in other 
w^ays, beyond a doubt, that she lies in thirty feet of 
water, from which it will be impossible to raise her 
again. 

"Captain Walley, who had assumed command of 
the ship only three Vvxeks ago — relieving Captain 
Cook, who commanded her in the acticn of ilay last 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 6 1 

— began his duties in a very bombastic style. He 
mustered his officers and men, and assured them that 
in three weeks he could again attack the enemy and 
sink and scatter his fleet, and then he would re-take 
Newbern and drive the Yankees from every foot of 
North Carolina soil. With the Albemarle and their 
aid, with the co-operation of the gallant army, he 
would, before the new year, regenerate the state, and 
leave not a trace of a Yankee within its borders. 

'' It is not improbable that he might have effected a 
good deal of damage, and perhaps have endangered 
for the time being our tenure of Newbern and Roanoke 
Island, as he was nearly ready for his raid. Thanks, 
however, to the gallant Gushing and his brave com- 
rades, through whose coolness, courage, and skill the 
coup de main was so admirably administered to the 
mailed monster, all danger has passed, and another 
destructive blow has been given to the declining rebel 
navy. 

"A meed of credit and praise should be awarded to 
Chief Engineer William W. W. Wood, of the navy, to 
whose inventive abilities and experience in submarine 
warfare w^e owe the contrivance of the torpedo and the 
successful arrangement by which it is handled and 
exploded. The one fired by Lieutenant Cushing con- 
tained but fift}^ pounds of powder; but it did its work 
to a charm. There was no chance of its failing in 
his hands. The entire arrangement is exceedingly 
ingenious, and it would be manifestly improper to 
describe at this time. 



62 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

" The cutters of the Shamrock, we omitted to men- 
tion, captured four rebel soldiers on picket on the 
Southfield, and brought them along safely to the 
squadron. 

*' THE ALBEMARLE. 

"The Albemarle was an iron-clad vessel, similar in 
general features to the Merrimac and Tennessee, but 
much stronger. It is said her iron mail was twelve 
inches in thickness, and backed by several feet of solid 
timber. She was armed with two two hundred 
pound Brooke's rifles, and was perfectly shot-proof 
Her weak point proved to be below. She could have 
been captured only by ramming, and for that purpose 
much heavier vessels were needed than any that could 
be got into the Sound. The torpedo was the only 
means of destroying her, and that proved successful 
when tried. 

"The Albemarle is probably the last formidable 
vessel that the rebels have in the inland waters of 
North Carolina, and they will hardly have an oppor- 
tunity of building more.'* 

"the hero of the ALBEMARLE IN WASHINGTON. 

"Washington, Nov. 2, 1864. 
"Lieutenant Gushing arrived here to-day, bringing 
with him the official report of the particulars attend- 
ing his destruction of the rebel ram Albemarle. This 
act relieves all the sounds of North Carolina from 
floating enemies, and thus leaves them free to the 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 6^ 

operations of our fleet. Lieutenant Gushing is a citi- 
izen of, and was appointed from, the State of New 
York. He is satisfied that a large number of lives 
must have been lost by the blowing up, as the Albe- 
marle's guns were all manned. The Secretary of the 
Navy will recommend to Congress a vote of thanks, 
and he will be promoted to a Lieutenant Com- 
mander" 

After landing Captain Wm. B. Cushing aboard the 
flag-ship of the fleet, the Valley City the same day, 
at 2^ p. m., weighed anchor, and proceeded to Nor- 
folk, Va., and from thence to the United States Navy 
Yard at Gosport, Va., and was put the on the dry dock 
for repairs. After the repairs of the Valley City were 
finished, on Sunday, November 27, at 4}4 p. ni., we 
got under weigh, and arrived at Hampton Roads, Va., 
at 6^ o'clock p. m. On Monday, November 28th, 
at 1 1 ^ o'clock, a. m., we weighed anchor, and arrived 
at Hatteras Inlet at 9^ o'clock a. m., Tuesday, No- 
vember 29. At 2 o'clock a. m., on Wednesday, No- 
vember 30, the Valley City arrived at Plymouth, and 
at ^j4 o'clock of the same morning the Valley City 
was ordered to Newbern: we weighed anchor and 
proceeded towards Newbern. We arrived at Roanoke 
Island at 11^ o'clock a.m. Our orders were then 
countermanded, and at 2 p. m.the Valley City steamed 
towards Plymouth, where we arrived at 10. p m. 

During the month of November, 1864, whilst the 
Valley City was absent at Norfolk, the remainder of 



64 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

the fleet, commanded by Commander Wm. H. 
Macomb, steamed up the Roanoke river, then across 
through Middle river, and then up the Cashie river 
to Roanoke river, down which it steamed and made an 
attack on Plymouth, which, after a hot action, fell into 
the hands of the Federals. The ram Albemarle was 
soon afterwards raised by the United States govern- 
ment. 

On Thursday, December i, I went ashore at Ply- 
mouth, and observed the ram Albemarle as she lay at 
the bottom of the river. At 12:15 p, m., we left Ply- 
mouth, and arrived at off Edenton at 2 p. m., and at 
4 p. m., the Valley City weighed anchor for Roanoke 
Island, where we arrived at 8 o'clock, a. m., December 
2, and at 9}^ o'clock p. m. the Valley City left 
Roanoke Island, arrived at Nevvbern at I o'clock p. m., 
Saturday, December 3d ; Sunday, December 4, I 
attended church at Newbern. 

Monday, December 5, I visited the graves of Cap- 
tain Charles W. Flusser and Acting Assistant-Surgeon 
George W. Wilson. The latter died after two hours' 
sickness, of yellow fever. He was stationed, at the 
time, on the United States steamer Hetzel, off New- 
bern, and was the surgeon of that vessel v/hen he 
contracted the disease. He was a young man, and 
was expecting soon to return North and visit his aged 
parents, and also a betrothed young lady. They 
waited, but he never came. 

On Tuesday, December 6th, at 4 o'clock p. m., we 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 65 

left Newbern, with Commander W. H. Macomb and 
his son on board, and on Wednesday, December 7, 
at 8^ o'clock a. m., we arrived off Roanoke Island. 
The Valley City left Roanoke Island at 12 o'clock m., 
and arrived at Plymouth at 10 p. m. On Thursday, 
December 8, at 12^ o'clock p. m., we left Plymouth 
and arrived at Edenton at 2^ o'clock p. m. We left 
Edenton at 8 o'clock p. m., and anchored at 10 o'clock 
p. m., at the mouth of the Roanoke river, where the 
U. S. steamer Ceres and a schooner were anchored. 
On Friday, December 9, at 9 o'clock a. m., the Val- 
ley City weighed anchor and proceeded to Plymouth, 
where she arrived at 10 o'clock a. m. 

RAINBOW BLUFF. 

HOW A FLEET WENT UP THE ROAXOKE AND CAME DOWN AGAIN. 

In the fall of 1864, when General U. S. Grant was 
shortening his lines around Petersburg, it was his 
policy to have every man, both in the army and navy, 
employed, in order to draw off as many as possible from 
General Lee's forces at Petersburg. Accordingly, for 
the purpose of capturing Rainbow Bluff, the fleet 
composed of the United States steamers Wyalusing, 
Otsego, General Berry, Bazeley, Valley City, Chicopee, 
tug Belle, and the picket launch No. 5, weighed 
anchor at 5 p. m., December 9, 1864, and proceeded 
up the Roanoke river, with Commander W. H. 
Macomb on board the Wyalusing leading, the Valley 
City second, and the Otsego third, followed by the 



66 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

Chicopee, Bazeley, General Berry, tug Belle, and the 
steam launch No. 5. 

Commander Macomb was informed by what he 
supposed was reliable authority that there were no 
torpedoes in the river from Plymouth to above James- 
ville, twelve miles up the river. A fortunate occur- 
rence for the Valley City took place on our passage to 
Jamesville. The engine of the Valley City gave out, 
and the engineer slowed up and repaired the damage, 
the Otsego in the meantime passing on ahead. By 
this circumstance the Valley City became third, and 
the Otsego second. We arrived off Jamesville about 
9 p. m. The Wyalusing signaled the fleet to come to 
anchor, and just as the fleet was slowing up previously 
to anchoring, we heard a loud report, the concussion 
of which shook the Valley City, which was a short 
distance off, as if there were an earthquake in the 
locality. Presently it was reported that the Otsego 
was lost, two torpedoes, one before and the other aft, 
striking her simultaneously, and sinking her to the 
bottom of the river. From some fortunate occurrence, 
the Wyalusing had passed safely over the place where 
the Otsego was blown up. 

On the following day, December 10, there was 
found to be a perfect nest of torpedoes in the river off 
Jamesville, and while passing near by the wreck of the 
Otsego, the Bazeley was blov/n literally to pieces, Cap- 
tain Aimes, in command of her, and the pilot and also 
paymaster, Louis Sands, of the Shamrock, were in the 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 6/ 

pilot-house at the time the explosion took place, and 
were blown with the pilot-house about thirty feet into 
the air, and alighted in the river unhurt. William C. 
Rossell, a lad, and John Gerrard, first-class boy, were 
killed. Captain Aimes then immediately reported to 
Commander Macomb that ''the Bazeley is gone up," 
but by that time she had gone down. 

The Roanoke river, from Jamesville to Poplar 
point, a distance of thirty miles, was dredged for tor- 
pedoes. In all, in the river between these two points, 
the dredging party took up and exploded eighty tor- 
pedoes. From Jamesville on, the Valley City took 
the lead, having previously rigged a torpedo-fender 
on her bow. The river was dredged by means of six 
boats' crews, each two of w^hich were paired, rowing 
about twenty feet apart, with a chain suspended be- 
tween them, dragging along the bottom of the river. 
Each torpedo was anchored at the bottom of the 
river by means of a rope, one end of which was tied 
to the torpedo, the other end to a staple fastened in 
the centre of the surface of a hemisphere of iron six 
inches in diameter, resting at the bottom of the river. 
The rope was sufficiently long to float the torpedo 
just beneath the surface of the water. The torpedoes 
were made of tin, each about eighteen inches long 
and ten inches in diameter, and divided into two sep- 
arate apartments, one for air, the other for powder. 
Through the centre of each torpedo, running longi- 
tudinally, there was an iron bar placed, extending be- 



68 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

yond each end. On the upper end there was a spring 
trigger, which was held by a hght iron cross bar, in- 
geniously attached to the longitudinal bar, so arranged 
that from the lightest touch it would fall off, letting 
the trigger fall on the upper part of the torpedo, 
striking a percussion cap immediately underneath it 
in the powder chamber, thus exploding the torpedo. 

The boats were protected as much as possible by 
the Valley City following close after, watching the 
banks of the river on either side. There were dykes 
on each side of the river, behind which in the under- 
growth the rebels often lurked. To obviate this. 
Commander W. H. Macomb ordered the marines to 
march a short distance ahead of the dredge-boats on 
either side of the river ; but notwithstanding this 
precaution, the men in the dredge-boats were fired 
into, and several were either wounded or killed by 
the sharpshooters. Sometimes the marines ashore 
would be driven back. The farther up the river we 
proceeded, the more numerous the rebels became, and 
the more our difficulties increased. The men in the 
dredge-boats did not consider the place a very safe 
one by any means, and often went into the boats with 
many forebodings. It was not a desirable place either 
on the Valley City, for there was a constant dread of 
torpedoes below and sharpshooters above. 

UP AND DOWN THE RIVER. 

The Valley City left Jamesville at 8 a. m., Decem- 
ber 12, and dredged the river, as I have described. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 69 

In the evening we had proceeded a few miles above 
Jamesville. I will now quote as I have it in my diary, 
which was written at that time. 

Tuesday, December 13, at 5:30 p. m., we were 
ordered back to Jamesville to cover the army. (I will 
state by way of parenthesis that the army forces at 
Plymouth, commanded by Colonel Frankle, had 
promised the fleet their co-operation, but in this the 
fleet was disappointed.) We proceeded down the " 
river as far as the fleet, when our orders were counter- 
manded and we returned to dredge the river. The 
remainder of the fleet would lay at anchor, whilst the 
dredging party, with the Valley City, would proceed 
four or five miles up the river ; then the balance of the 
fleet would get under weigh and steam up to the Val- 
ley City, and then come to an anchor again; but when 
the rebels commenced to thicken in the woods along 
the river, the fleet kept together behind the dredging 
party. 

Friday, December 16. — We have been dredging the 
riv^er, and have advanced to within a short distance of 
WiUiamston. At 12 m. we arrived at Williamston. I 
went ashore at this place. It is a small place on the 
right bank of the Roanoke river — the ground rising 
gently from the river to the rear of the town. The 
houses are built of frame, and very much scattered. 
A family I visited there show^ed me a hole in their 
house made by a Federal shell passing through it. 
One of the inmates of the house had been sitting in a 
chair in a room in the line of the shell, and just a mo- 



yO REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

ment before the shell came crashing through the 
house the lady went into an adjoining room, thus 
escaping. The chair in which she had been sitting 
was knocked to atoms. At i p. m. we left Williams- 
ton, and at 5 p. m. we anchored. 

Saturday, December 17. — We lay at anchor all day. 
In the morning I was astonished to see a hog swim 
across the Roanoke river immediately in front of us, 
because I have always heard it said that swine will not 
swim. This was the first and only hog I ever saw swim. 
At 1 1 a. m. I went ashore to where an old man lived ; 
he was covered with rags, and lived in a secluded spot 
close by the water's edge. He had no family but a 
little boy about eleven years of age. There was not 
even a cow or horse to be seen — everything around 
him betokened distress and misery. ^ I asked him how 
long he had been living here. He replied, '' I have 
been living here six years." I then asked him if he 
enjoyed this sort of life. He answered, *' No." I 
asked him if he had an education. He said, '' I can 
neither read nor write." I then asked if he intended 
to give his son an education. He replied that before 
the war he had intended to give his son an education, 
but now times were so hard that it was barely possi- 
ble for him to get sufficient to eat. After bidding him 
farewell, I returned aboard. 

Sunday, December 18. — At 2 p. m. we got under 
weigh to dredge the river. At 5 p. m. we anchored 
for the night. The nights are dark and foggy, and 
the rebel miusketeers and sharpshooters frequently 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, /I 

come up under cover of the darkness behind the 
dykes, and give us a wholesome dose from their 
rifles; but they are soon hurled back again by a dose 
of grape from our guns. During the nights, to pre- 
vent floating torpedoes coming down the river, small 
boats or skiffs that we had captured from the enemy 
were tied in line across the river above the fleet. 

Monday, December 20. — The launches that have 
been dredging the river have been fired into, and Act- 
ing Master Wells and two men of the Chicopee 
were wounded. This event caused the rowers to be- 
come so much panic-stricken that they dropped their 
oars, lay down in the botton of the launches, and al- 
lowed their boats to float down with the current. It 
was with much difliculty that Captain J. A. J. Brooks, 
by calling to them from the Valley City, could get 
them aroused; but finally they came alongside. We, 
however, kept on dredging the river till we came to 
a point in the Roanoke river, where we anchored. 
The river at this point where the fleet is anchored 
makes a bend like that of a horseshoe. The ground 
on the inside of the bend, on the right bank of the 
river, is low and level, and covered with young sap- 
lings or undergrowth. At the heels of this horse- 
shoe bend ran a high ridge, covered partly with pop- 
lar trees and partly w^ith white-oak trees. The fleet 
lay on the Plymouth stretch of the river, or near 
stretch, and at the end of the far stretch where the 
river runs under the high bluff, the rebels, as we as- 
certained afterwards, had fortified with artillery, and 



72 REMIXISCEN'CES OF TWO YEARS 

an army said to be ten thousand strong. We did not 
then suspect we would find the rebels in force, till we 
got to Rainbow Bluff. This place was known by the 
name of Poplar Point. 

All the fleet was at anchor, and had been since 3 
o'clock p. m. The day was beautiful. The fish were 
nibbling at pieces of hard tack which had been thrown 
overboard by the sailors. The current of the river 
rushed swiftly past, making the rudder flap in the 
water. The men were lounging about on the berth 
deck, resting. The cook was preparing supper, the 
messenger boys were carrying victuals from the galley 
to the ward-room, and placing them on the table. The 
officer of the deck was pacing to and fro on the star- 
board side of the vessel. Captain Brooks was in his 
cabin. Many of the officers were in the ward-room. 
All else was quiet. I was pacing the port side of the 
Valley City. Pilot John A. Lewis was standing on the 
after hatchway, a little above the gun- deck amidships. 
As I approached him in walking from the bow of the 
vessel towards him, I said to him, '' Pilot, what do 
you think of the prospect of getting to Rainbow 
Bluff? " He replied, ''' I think we will get there by 
and by, if vve have patience and the rebels don't blow 
us up." Just as I was turning to pace to the bow of 
the Valley City, I heard a report ashore like that of a 
number of barrels of fire-crackers exploding. Simul- 
taneously with this explosion, I heard the zipping of 
bullets in the air close to my head, and striking the 
bulwarks of the vessel close by me, Then artillery 
fire commenced. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 73 

In the meantime three loud and prolonged rattles 
were sprung by the officer of the deck, calling all hands 
to quarters. I ran down the forward hatchway and 
through the berth-deck to the dispensary, which was 
my station, and which was just in front of the boiler 
on the berth-deck, and at the foot of the steps of the 
hatchway on which John A. Lewis was standing when 
the firing commenced. He was passed down to me, 
killed by a bullet from a sharp-shooter, passing 
through his head from ear to ear. John A. Lewis was 
pilot of the ill-fated Otsego, and had been ordered 
aboard the Valley City for general duty after the 
sinking of that vessel. At the time that pilot John A. 
Lewis was killed, I had my full officer's uniform on, 
but he had on a blouse and soft felt hat. I felt certain 
at the time that the ball that killed John A. Lewis 
was intended for me, as I was nearly in line of the 
shot. 

The rebels made it pretty warm for us from 5 to 9 
o'clock p. m. The Valley City was struck three 
times with shell, and fired one hundred and thirty-six 
shots. One of the shells that struck the Valley City 
came into a lamp-closet just over my head and near 
the end of the boiler, but did not explode. An old 
sailor sitting near by where I was standing, upon see- 
ing the ceiling broken above my head, said, '' Don't 
be alarmed; lightning nor shells never strike twice 
in the same place." Another shell went crashing 
through the ward-room, down through an old family 
4 



74 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

Bible (which Acting Ensign Milton Webster had 
captured ashore), and then out of the ward-room 
through a passage-way in which some negroes off the 
Ostego were lying concealed, killing them, and then 
exploding in the river. In the meantime, the re- 
mainder of the fleet kept up a constant fire. 

During the battle, Acting Ensign ]\Iilton Webster 
performed some acts of daring, by taking the end of 
a hawser in a cutter, manned by negroes, ashore, and 
making it fast to a tree, under a shower of bullets and 
shells. The cutter was pierced several times with 
bullets, but nobody in it was hurt. The hawser was 
made fast to the tree for the purpose of drawing the 
stern of the Valley City around so as to bring her 
guns to bear on the enemy. 

After a brisk fire from the fleet for four hours, the 
rebels ceased firing, but annoyed the fleet during the 
night by squads of infantry firing from behind the 
dykes and then running away. It was dangerous to 
have a light aboard the vessel, and we were there- 
fore compelled to take our suppers as best we could 
in the dark. 

Tuesday, December 20. — We are engaged in bury- 
ing the dead and skirmishing with the enemy, the 
rebels with their accustomed barbarity firing on the 
burying party. We were annoyed all day by the 
sharpshooters and batteries of the enemy, but con- 
tinued to hold our own and to keep the enemy back. 

On Wednesday, December 21, the Valley City 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 75 

weighed anchor at 2:10 o'clock p. m. The Confeder- 
ates were firing musketry at the Wyalusing. At 2:40 
p. m. the Valley City steamed ahead, around the turn 
which opened up the far stretch of the river. This 
stretch of the river was covered by rebel artillery. 
The Valley City had scarcely showed her bow around 
the turn, till she received a severe shot from the 
rebel batteries, which plunged diagonally through the 
pilot-house, Vv^hich was lined outside with half-inch 
iron, knocking off the door thereto, wounding three 
men — the pilot John A. Wilson, Charles Hall, and 
John Wood: the latter two were mortally wounded. 
The Valley City immediately dropped out of range of 
said battery, and came to anchor at 3:05 p. m. In 
the evening the fleet dropped farther down on the 
near stretch of the river. The Valley City lost her 
torpedo-fender. 

December 22. — Last night we were again annoyed 
by musketry and sharpshooters ashore. During the 
day, after burying the dead, the Valley City dropped 
down below the fleet to arrange on her bows another 
torpedo-fender. About 2:20 p. m. we heard loud 
whistling from steam launch No. 5, which was bring- 
ing up the mail from Plymouth. I was standing on 
the poop-deck, and through the bushes on the flat on 
the inside of the bend I saw a regiment of rebels 
running towards the launch, at the same time keep- 
ing up a rapid fire at her. The Valley City dropped 
her torpedo-fender, steamed down, and after firing a 
few shots of grape at the rebels, they retreated. In 



76 REMINISCEN'CES OF TVrO YEARS 

the meantime, Commander \V. H. ]\Iacomb learned 
that the rebels had been removing their batteries that 
com.manded the far stretch of the river to a point 
below us, so as to command the near stretch, and if 
possible prevent our returning down the ri^'er, and 
thereby capture the fleet. Matters were becoming 
desperate, and Commander Macomb therefore deter- 
mined to retreat dovvm the river. The \''alley Cit\^ 
was the first to go b}' the rebel batteries, the remain- 
der of the fleet keeping up a rapid fire at them. The 
current of the river was so strong, and the bend 
under the rebel batteries so sharp, that the Valley City 
whirled round like a water-wheel, first striking the bow 
against the shore, and then the stern. I v/as fearful 
we might be boarded. An attempt was also made to 
fell trees on the fleet whilst passing. After the Valley 
City had passed safely by the rebel batteries, she came 
to anchor, trained her guns on the enemy, and in 
conjunction with the remainder of the fleet above the 
bend of the river, kept up a rapid fire whilst a second 
vessel passed; and thus one vessel of the fleet after 
another passed safeh' around the turn of the river, 
under fire of the rebel batteries. 

Commander IMacomb now gave the Valley City 
orders to prceed down the river cautiously, and have 
the river dredged in our rear. For a short distance 
Captain J. A. J. Brooks had the men in cutters, dredg- 
ing the river ; but after consulting his executive 
officer, Milton Webster, Acting Assistant Paymaster 
J. \V. Sands and myself, as to the propriety of steam- 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. // 

ing down the river without dredging it, it was agreed 
upon to call the dredge-boats in, and we proceeded 
down the river, shelling the woods on right bank 
of the river and then came to an anchor above Wil- 
liamston. 

Friday, December 23. — The Valley City continued 
steaming down the river, and anchored off Williams- 
ton at 12 m. At I p. m. she weighed anchor and 
steamed to off Jamesville, where she arrived at 5 p. m., 
the remainder of the fleet following close in our rear. 

On Saturday, December 24, the Valley City pro- 
ceeded two miles up the river to tug the Chicopee off, 
which had got transversely across the river, prevent- 
ing the fleet behind her from descending. The Val- 
ley City returned and anchored off Jamesville at lO 
o'clock a. m. The fleet is all now anchored off 
Jamesville, and is engaged in destroying the wreck of 
the Otsego. During this expedition I never had my 
clothes or shoes off. 

On Thursday, December 29, at 11^ o'clock a. m. 
the Valley City weighed anchor and proceeded to 
Plymouth, where we arrived at 123^ p. m. 

[Published in the New York Herald of January 9, 1865.] 

NEWBERN. 

ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE EXPEDITION 

UP ROANOKE RIVER. 

THE FLEET REACHES POPLAR POINT. 

FROM OUR NEWBERN (n. C.) CORRESPONDENT. 

NewbePvN, N. C. December 27, 1864. 
The expedition that left Plymouth, N. C, on the 
9th instant, has returned and anchored off Jamesville, 



78 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

Roanoke river, having by arduous labor accom- 
plished results that reflect great credit upon the com- 
manding officer and his subordinates. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE EXPEDITION. 

The naval portion of this expedition sailed from 
Plymouth on the evening of the 9th instant, in the 
following order : Wyalusing, Lieutenant Commander 
Earl English, bearing the broad pennant of Com- 
mander W. H. Macomb, commanding the fourth 
division of the North Atlantic squadron; Valley City, 
Acting Master J. A. J. Brooks; Otsego, Commander 
Arnold ; Chicopee, Commander Hannell ; Bazeley, 
Acting Ensign Aimes ; tug Belle, Acting Master 
Green; and the picket launch No. 5, Acting Ensign 
Chapman. The Shamrock was to follow. 

A land force commanded by Colonel Frankle had 
started from Plymouth at daylight the same morning, 
to co-operate with the fleet. 

THE OTSEGO DESTROYED BY A TORPEDO. 

Without interruption, the squadron at 9 o'clock the 
same night arrived at Jamesville, a small town above 
Plymouth some twelve miles, when the signal to 
anchor was made from the flag-ship. The night being 
dark, and the river flowing rapidly in its narrow and 
tortuous ' channel, it was thought best to proceed 
no further until daylight. The Wyalusing had just 
let go her anchor a few yards above the town, when 
two loud reports were heard astern, and dense volumes 
of smoke and steam were seen to envelop the Otsego. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 79 

That fine vessel had struck two torpedoes, one under 
the port coal-bunker, the other beneath the keelson, 
driving a large hole through her bottom, and throw- 
ing one of her hundred-pounder rifled Parrotts into 
the air. She sank in fifteen minutes in three fathoms 
of water, being a complete wreck. Her oflficers and 
men lost all their clothing, except what they had on 
at the moment of the explosion, but were cared for by 
their comrades of the other vessels, who hurried to 
their rescue, and periled their own lives in saving their 
shipwrecked fellow-sailors. Commander Arnold be- 
haved with great coolness, and his self-possession 
soon restored order and discipline on board the 
sunken ship, or rather on her hurricane deck, which 
alone remained out of water. 

DESTRUCTION OF THE BAZELEY. 

In the morning orders were given to drag for torpe- 
does, when it was found that the Otsego had struck 
upon a perfect nest of them. The boats which had 
been passing and repassing to and from he!»during 
the night, had rowed over numbers of them, happily 
w^ithout touching them. Several were picked up 
alongside the Otsego, and two were hanging to the 
torpedo-fender rigged at her bow. The steamer 
Bazeley during the morning was ordered to run down 
to Plymouth, to convey orders and dispatches, taking 
on board for that purpose Paymaster Louis Sands, of 
the Shamrock, who had been detailed as one of Com- 
mander Macomb's aids in this expedition. On her 



80 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

way down, being directed to communicate with the 
Otsego, Captain Aimes ran towards the sunken vessel, 
when a torpedo struck the Bazeley under the pilot 
house, blowing a hole clear through her, killing Wm. 
C. Rossell, a lad, and John Gerrard, first-class boy, 
and sinking the ship instantly. The officers and re- 
mainder of the crew escaped by swimming, and were 
picked up by boats. Captain Aimes, upon returning 
to the flagship, thus laconically reported his loss to 
Commander Macomb : '' Sir, the Bazeley has gone up." 
The destruction of two of our vessels so quickly 
made things look blue, but the grit and metal that 
headed the expedition were sufficient to overcome 
such disasters. 

A FRESH START. 

Preparations were now fully carried out to drag the 
river by boats for the torpedoes, which were con- 
stantly found in the richest and choicest clusters, in 
some places eight or nine being placed across the 
river in a line, and having susceptibilities of the most 
sensitivf? nature, going off on the slightest provocation. 
Communication with Plymouth having been obtained, 
the signal was made to advance, the Valley City 
taking the lead. 

Mr. Chamberlain, a civilian, had volunteered to go 
with the expedition with a calcium light, which proved 
to be of great advantage to the fleet in the intense 
darkness of the nights. The light was placed on the 
leading vessel, and made our pathway as clear as 
broad daylight. 



IX THE UNITED STATES XAVY. 8 1 

The fieet proceeded slowly,. having six boats con- 
stantly employed in dragging and picking up torpe- 
does, which continued to be found in great profusion. 
Large numbers were found at Shad Island Bend and 
other points, and many exploded in the attempt made 
to get them on shore. Eighty were taken up in a 
distance of thirty miles. 

LIVIXG ON THE ENEMY. 

The fleet anchored off several of the plantations 
along the river, and the men were allowed to regale 
themselves with fresh provisions and other luxurious 
articles that were contraband of war. x\ll articles of 
military value were taken or destroyed, and a quan- 
tity of cotton pressed into the service as bulwarks 
against the sharpshooters who lined the banks of the 
stream. Mr. Speller, a rich planter, owning a place 
called Speller's Landing, was arrested and sent to 
Plymouth. He had accepted a nomination to a seat 
in the rebel Legislature, had three sons in the rebel 
army, and was himself a bitter reviler and opponent 
of the government. Other prominent rebels were also 
seized and sent to Plymiouth. One of them offered 
Commander Macomb and Lieutenant Comunander 
English a large amount of gold, which he had on his 
person, to release him; but like Paulding and Van 
Wert of old, the patriotism, of the sailor chiefs revolted 
at the attempt to bribe them, and an order to place 
the rebel in closer confinement was the only result of 
the proposition. Corruption has been little knou^n in 
-this war among our naval officers; and though many 
4^ 



82 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

of them are far from wealthy, their honor and good 
name are more precious in their eyes than milHons of 
dishonorable wealth. 

THE OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY. 

It was part of the programme that Colonel Frankle 
should communicate with the fleet at Jamesville; but 
without waiting for the arrival of the vessels, he pushed 
on his men to Foster's Mills, where a skirmish ensued 
with the enemy, who were repulsed. The mills were 
burned, and Colonel Clark was left to hold the place, 
while the main body proceeded onward, the rebels - 
retreating on Rainbow Banks, a very strong and com- 
manding position on the river, twenty miles above 
Williamston. The fleet learned the news by one of 
Colonel Clark's scouts, and the next day one of our 
picket boats, which had been sent back to Jamesville, 
returned to the fleet, bringing additional intelligence 
that the army, getting out of provisions, had fallen 
back to Jamesville. Commander Macomb sent a dis- 
patch to Colonel Frankle commanding, stating that 
time was precious ; that the fleet would proceed at all 
hazards, and would turn back for nothing until it 
reached the bluff; and urging that the troops should 
go forward at once. A promise was returned that the 
troops would again move forward in a short time. 

THE FLEET APPROACHES POPLAR POINT. 

The fleet kept on its way for several days more, 
dragging the river at every step, exploding torpedoes, 
fighting sharpshooters, and pressing forward toward 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 83 

Rainbow Bluff; until, on the ev^ening of the 20th, we 
turned a bend in the stream exposing to view Poplar 
Point, a high bluff thoroughly commanding the river. 

THE MARINES ON SHORE DUTY. 

On our left, after doublino- the bend, w^as a laree 
marshy plain protected by a dyke, behind which 
sharpshooters w^ere thought to be lurking. Com- 
mander [Macomb ordered the marines of the squadron 
to land, and under command of Acting Ensign Fesset, 
of the Wyalusing, to move along the bank, behind the 
levee, and look out for the enemy. They soon found 
the rebel pickets and skirmished with them, the rebels 
being driven back towards the point. Soon a large 
body of rebels was found, and a brisk little action took 
place. A prisoner being captured by Sergeant Kane, 
of the Shamrock, belonging to Whitford's rebel regi- 
ment, reported that his regimient was in the sw^amp, as 
the advance of the rebels, whose entire strength w^as 
some six thousand men. The marines continued the 
skirmishing until nightfall, when they w^ere recalled, 
having throughout the day behaved admirably, re- 
taining the good reputation which that branch of the 
service has always held. 

THE VALLEY CITY ENCOUNTERS A BATTERY. 

No sooner had the Valley City, w^hich continued 
to be the leading vessel, show^n her head around the 
point, than she was saluted by a batter}' which the 
rebels had placed there so skillfully as to give them 
accurate and deadly aim.. She replied w^ith great 



84 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

effect, and silenced the battery ; but night fell, and 
the firing ceased. During the night all the vessels 
were annoyed by the rebels, who would sneak . up 
under cover of the trees, fire a volley upon our decks, 
and skedaddle, their retreat being often accelerated by 
a wholesome dose of grape. During the day the Val- 
ley City had suffered badly from the rebel battery. 
Pilot John A, Lewis was shot through the head with 
a Minie ball and instantly killed. He was buried on 
the bank of the river — the rebels, with their accus- 
tomed barbarity, firing on the burying party. 

A shell exploded in the pilot-house of the Valley 
City, badly wounding her other pilot. A number of 
her men were also badly hurt. 

THE FLEET IN A TIGHT PLACE. 

The 2ist and 22d were passed in shelling the bat- 
teries on Poplar Point, and endeavoring to drag the 
river for torpedoes, that were now thicker than ever. 
As fast as our boats would leave the ships to com- 
mence dragging, the rebels would open on them, 
wounding and killing the men. A new battery opened 
on the Valley City, inflicting serious damage on her. 
The other ships, with their hundred-pounder rifles, 
drove the rebels off repeatedly, but only to return 
whenever our fire slackened. It was plain that we 
could no longer do without a land force to drive the- 
fellows off and clear the way for our dragging boats. 
Every moment the rebels thickened in the woods; the 
trees and bushes were alive with sharpshooters ; bat- 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 85 

teries were discovered in process of erection in our 
rear ; and in a word, the position of the squadron was 
critical. 

THE FLEET WITHDRAWS TO JAMESVILLE. 

Commander Macomb again sent a despatch to the 
colonel commanding the land forces, begging him to 
press forward without delay. The reply was that the 
army would advance when transportation permiitted. 
The position of the fleet was untenable for twenty- 
four hours more ; to have remained would have in- 
sured the loss of another vessel ; to advance was im- 
possible without army co-operation : so, very reluct- 
antly, Commander Macomb gave the order to fall 
back to Jamesville, there to await the action of the 
army. The fleet fought its way back for seven or 
eight miles, and the rest of the way was passed in 
quiet. ~ 

The Otsego had not yet been put out of commission 
— Commander Arnold and a portion of her crew 
remaining on her hurricane-deck, and living al fresco. 
Her heavy battery had been removed to the Sham- 
rock and Wyalusing, but her brass howitzer still 
remained on her hurricane-deck to defend her crew. 
A survey was now held upon her, and it was decided 
that it was impossible to raise either her or the Baze- 
ley. Everything that could be removed was taken 
away, and two torpedoes were placed in her hull and 
exploded, thus finishing the work of the rebels. Her 
remains were then set on fire, and she was burned to 
the water's edge. 



86 REMINISCE^XES OF TWO YEARS 

The entire fleet, with the exception of the Chicopee 

and ]\Iattabessett, are now at Jamesvilie ; and the 
United States steamer Lockwood, to which Captain 
Aimes was ordered after the loss of the Bazeley, joined 
it last night, having sailed from Xewbern to do so. 

COMMANDER MACOMB. 

The indom.itable perseverance of Com.mander ]\Ia- 
comb and his captains, in pushing on through a river 
filled with torpedoes and lined with sharpshooters for 
fiftv miles, drao-a-ina- almost everv foot of the wav, and 
driving the enemy before them, is unsurpassed even 
in the brilliant naval history of this war. ]\Iany com- 
manders would have faltered after losing two of their 
vessels ; but there was no faltering in ]\Iacomb. It 
was not until all hope of land co-operation was 
exhausted, and until it was demonstrated that with- 
out a land support he could go no further, that he 
consented to retire. Throughout the whole expedi- 
tion, he asked his men to encounter no danger that he 
did not himself share. His exposure of himself to 
death was constant and unflinching ; his coolness and 
self-possession never left him ; and in him his officers 
and men beheld an example worthy of their emula- 
tion. 

Thanks of the officers of the Otsego, to Captain 
Wood and officers of the transport. General Berry: 

" Wreck of United States Steamer Otsego, 
'' Roanoke River, X. C, December, 15, 1864. 

'' The officers of this vessel desire to express their 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 8/ 

thanks to Captain Wood and other officers of the 
army transport, General Berry, for the politeness and 
kind consideration they received on board that boat, 
after their own vessel was blown up by torpedoes, on 
the night of December 9, and the polite manner in 
which they furnished both officers and men with 
every facility for obtaining the comforts they so much 
needed. 

" H. N. T. Arnold, Lieutenant Commander. 

" Henry D. Foster, Ensign and Executive Officer. 

" J. P. Gallagher, Ensign, 

•' Wm. H. McLean, Ensign. 

" George C. Reynolds, Assistant Surgeon. 

" Samuel C. Midlam, Acting First Ass't Engineer. 

''R. A. RoLFE, Captain's Clerk. 

'' Robert S. Houston, Paymaster s Clei^k. 

" Franlin Stedman, Acting Master s Mate!' 

THAT old family BIBLE. 

A Bible captured near Windsor, North Carolina, 
during the expedition up Roanoke river, on the night 
of December i6th, 1864, by Ensign Milton Webster, 
on a marauding expedition, is over a hundred years 
old, as is show^n by its title-page : '' Edinburgh : 
Printed by Alexander Kincaid, his Majesty's Printer, 
MDCCLXIX." The book originally belonged to W. 
A. Turner, of Windsor, North Carolina, as that name 
appears in gilt upon one of the corners of the Bible ; 
and on a page in the book appears the following 
record : 



55 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

*' David Turner and Elizabeth Armistead were 
married Tuesday, August l6, 1785. 

'' David Turner born September 2d, 1738 ; Elizabeth 
Armistead born December 29th, 1759. 

''Thomas Turner born July i8th, 1786, 4:30 after- 
noon ; William Armistead Turner born December 
13th, 1787, nine o'clock a. m. They were both bap- 
tized Sunday, August 2d, 1789, by the Rev. McDowell. 

*' George Turner born November 24th, about 5 
o'clock in the morning, 1789, and baptized Sunday, 
twenty-first of February following, by the Rev. W. 
Blount. 

'' Sarah Turner born i\pril 28th, fifty minutes after 
nine in the morning, 1791, and baptized November 
27th, same year, by Rev. W. Wilson. 

*'Mary Turner born November 8th, at eight o'clock 
in the morning, 1793, and baptized June 4th following, 
by Rev^ Mr. Petigro, and died August 8th, 1794, some 
time between three and four o'clock, which was before 
day. 

"Hannah Turner born October 17th, about eleven 
o'clock in the morning, 1796, and w^as baptized second 
Sunday in July following, by the Rev. W. Joseph 
Gurley. 

'' George Turner departed this life August, 1801. 

'' David Turner was born September 2, 1738, and 
died May 17th, 1802, in the 64th year of his age. 

'' My dear little Sarah and Hannah Turner both de- 
parted this life March 15th, 1805. 

" Elizabeth Turner departed this life May 17, 1822, 
aged 62 years, 4 months and 18 days. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 89 

'* Thomas Turner died on the 6th day of January, 

1847. 

*' A!] the forenamed persons, with the exception of 
the writer hereof, are buried in the graveyard at the 
plantation whereon the father, David Turner, and 
family lived, two and one-half miles west of the town 
of Windsor." 

No doubt the writer of the above is also dead, and 
time and the chances of war may have scattered any 
remaining members of the fam.ily. 

THE VALLEY CITY AND HER OFFICERS, 

The officers of the U. S. Steamer Valley City were 
as follows: Acting Master Commanding, John A. J. 
Brooks ; Acting Ensign and Executive Officer, Milton 
Webster; Acting Master's Mates, Charles F. O'Neill 
and John Maddock; Acting Assistant Paymaster, J. 
Woodville Sands ; Acting Assistant Surgeon, John 
M. Batten ; Engineers — Second Assistant in charge, 
James M. Battin; Acting Third Assistant, John Min- 
ton; Acting Master and Pilot, John A. Wilson, 

Captain J. A. J. Brooks was a North Carolinian by 
birth, and was acquainted with the waters and people 
of North Carolina. He was a full-sized man of fine 
figure, 35 years of age, brown piercing eyes, light hair, 
and in general appearance a fine4ooking officer. He 
was brave, and ever on the alert. Many nights whilst 
the Valley City was laying at the mouth of Roanoke 
river watching for the rebel ram Albemarle, I found 
Captain Brooks at all hours on deck — I often won- 



90 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

dered when he slept. In battle he was cool and brave. 
Under his command the Valley City was considered, 
by the Confederates in that vicinity, a terror to the 
waters of North Carolina. 

It was on the Valley City, whilst in a fight at 
Elizabeth N. C, a man sat over the opened end of a 
barrel of powder to prevent it from being ignited, 
after an enemy's shell had entered and exploded in the 
powder magazine, and thus saved the yessel. The 
man was immediately promoted to a gunner. 

At many places to which the Valley City steamed. 
Captain Brooks would be anxious to ascertain how 
many Confederates there were in the locality. Upon 
asking some colored people, who were always assem- 
bled to greet us, how many rebels there were at a 
certain locality, they would make the following reply: 
**I don't know, sah ; but dar is a right smaht number 
dar." Upon pressing them for a more definite answer 
they would repeat, '*I don't know, massa; but dar is 
a right smaht number dar." 

The Valley City, and I believe all naval vessels, 
were directed to go ahead, fast, slow, or stop, or back 
fast or slow, by a bell hung in the engine room, con- 
nected with the pilot-house by a wire which was 
pulled by the pilot. One bell was to start; two bells, 
go ahead slow; four bells, go ahead fast; and one bell 
to stop (that is when the vessel was in motion); three 
bells back; two bells, back slow; and four bells, back 
fast. 

The time of day was noted by means of a bell, as 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 9 1 

follows: One bell, 12^ o'clock, p. m..; two bells, i 
o'clock, p] m.; three bells, i ^ o'clock, p. m.; four bells, 

2 o'clock, p. m.; five bells, 2 j^ o'clock, p. m.; six bells, 

3 o'clock, p. m.; seven bells, 31^ o'clock, p. m.; and 
eight bells, 4 o'clock, p, m.; then, one bell, 4^ o'clock, 
p. m., and so on till 8 o'clock, p. m.; then, one bell, 
8^ o'clock, p. m., and so on till 12 o'clock, p. m.; thus 
the time during the first twelve hours of the following 
day was noted, and in the same way any succeeding 
twelve hours. . 

Each watch remained on duty four hours, say from 
12 o'clock m. until 4 o'clock p. m., when it was 
relieved by another watch, which would remain on 
duty until 8 o'clock p. m., when this watch was again 
relieved by another watch, which would remain on 
duty four hours, or until 12 o'clock p. m. 

It would be an officer's duty on arriving aboard his 
own or another vessel, to salute the quarter-deck by 
taking off his hat, even if there were nobody on the 
deck. All who were on the deck would return the 
salute also, by taking their hats off An officer arriv- 
ing on board his own vessel would always report to 
the captain of the vessel, as follows: ''Captain, I 
report myself aboard, sir." The captain would reply: 
*' Aye, aye, sir." 

Some very dark nights the Captain, in order to 
time the crew and officers of the Valley City in get- 
ting to their quarters, would spring the rattle for gen- 
eral quarters ; and such a time there would be in 
getting out of our berths, and going to general quar- 



92 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

ters ! The whole affair would be very amusing, and 
sometimes ridiculous. 

The small boats attached to a man-of-war are the 
Captain's gig, dingy, cutters and launches. The man 
who guides or commands one of these small boats is 
known as the coxswain. A small boat is manned 
by seven to fifteen men, according to the size of the 
boat. The coxswain's command, if he wants to turn 
sharp to the left or port, is '' Hold water port, give 
way strong starboard." If he wishes to turn sharp 
to the right or starboard, his command would be, 
'' Hold v/ater starboard, give way strong port." In 
rowing alongside of a vessel, when the boat had suffi- 
cient headway to carry it alongside, the coxswain 
commands the men to drop their oars. There are 
many other commands given by the coxswain, but 
it is unnecessary to name them in this place. 

It is a very beautiful sight to see a boat rowed by 
fourteen trained men, all dressed similarly. 

Saturday, Decemiber 31, at 2 a. m., the Valley City 
got under weigh and proceeded up the Chowan river. 
We arrived in sight of Winton, when the Valley City 
returned down the river and anchored for the night. 
Sunday, January i, 1865, at 4 o'clock p. m., we 
steamed down the river, and at 5)^ o'clock p. m. we 
anchored off Edenton and went ashore. The weather 
is cold and windy. 

Tuesday, January 3d, 1865, the Valley City, at 10 j4 
o'clock a. m., weighed anchor and proceeded to Ply- 
mouth, where she arrived at i p. m. At 8 p. m.,^left 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 93 

Plymouth and proceeded to off Edenton, where we 
arrived at lO p. m. 

Wednesday, January 4th, 1865, we left Edenton at 
7 a. m., and arrived at Plymouth at 9^ a. m. Mr. 
Stevens is aboard. The weather is cold. 

Saturday, January 7. — During the week the Valley 
City has been cruising up Chowan river, Simon's 
Creek, and around Edenton Bay, watching for the 
Philadelphia, a blockade runner. Captain Brooks, 
Paymaster Sands and I, frequently went ashore at 
Edenton. The weather during the week has been 
mild, moist and rainy. 

Sunday, January 8, at 5 a. m., we proceeded from 
Chowan River to Edenton Bay, where we arrived at 
7 a. m. Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Acting Master James 
G. Green, Paymaster Sands and I, went ashore and 
took dinner with Mr. Samuel B. At 6 p. m., we got 
under weigh and proceeded to the mouth of Chowan 
River. The weather is cold. 

Monday, January 9. — The weather is delightful. 
We lay during the day at the m.outh of Chowan River. 
Tuesday, January loth, at 5 a. m., the Valley City got 
under weigh and proceeded up to Poole's Landing, 
on the Chowan River. At 11:45 ^- ^., we discovered 
the Philadelphia. We immediately steamed toward 
her, and at 12:15 p. m., Mr. Milton Webster, execu- 
tive officer, took a launch with a crew of men and 
boarded the Philadelphia, which was laying near Cole- 
rain, with a cargo of 257 bales of cotton, and tobacco. 
At I p. m. we got under weigh, with the Philadelphia 



94 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

in tow, and proceeded to Plymouth. At 5 p. m., 
we anchored at the mouth of Roanoke River. The 
weather is raining and blustering, accompanied with 
thunder and lightning. 

Wednesday, January nth, at 8 a. m., we weighed 
anchor and proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived 
at 9^ a. m. At I ^ p. m., the Valley City got under 
way and proceeded to Edenton, where we arrived at 
3:25 p. m. Captain Brooks, J. W. Sands and I, went 
ashore, and called on Mr. Samuel B. At 5:30 p. m. 
we got under weigh and proceeded to Plymouth, 
where we arrived ^at 8 p. m. The weather is cold 
but pleasant. At 9 p. m., we left Plymouth and pro- 
ceeded up Chowan River. 

Thursday, January 12. — The Valley City came to 
anchor at I a. m., at Holly's Island. At 6 a. m. we 
got under weigh and proceeded up Chowan river. 
At 7:30 a. m. we came to anchor off " Camp Win- 
field." Mr. Milton Webster went ashore, and in com- 
pany with Mr. Winslow, they traveled seven miles 
into the country, and returned safely at i p. m., with 
Mr. Winslow and his brother. In the meantime. 
Captain Brooks, Paymaster Sands and crew went 
ashore, and captured several bales of cotton. We 
arrived at Edenton at 7 p. m. Captain Brooks, Pay- 
master J. W. Sands, Mr. Cannon, and Messrs. Win- 
slows, went ashore. The weather is delightful. 

Friday, January 13. — At 6:20 a. m. we got under 
weigh, and proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived 
at 8:20 a. m. The weather is beautiful. I spent 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. g$ 

nearly all day ashore. At 7 p. m. we got under weigh, 
and proceeded toward Roanoke Island. Saturday, 
January 14, at 2 a. m., we anchored in Albemarle 
Sound, and at 8 a. m. we arrived at Roanoke Island. 
The weather is windy. ^Sunday, January 15, the Val- 
ley City got under weigh at 4 o'clock p. m., and pro- 
ceeded toward Plymouth. Mr. O'Neill, acting master's 
mate, was very severely injured by a hawser to which 
the schooner was fastened in tow, slipping on a kevel. 
The weather is windy, and the Sounds are rough. 
Monday, January 16, we- arrived at Plymouth at 10 
a. m. _ ^ 

Tuesday, January 17. — -We got under weigh at 11 
a. m., and proceeded to Edenton, where we arrived at 
12:30 p. m. Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Acting Master 
James G. Green, J. W. Sands and I went ashore and 

took tea at Mr. Samuel B 's. We spent a very 

pleasant time. Mr. Skinner, D. D., was present. At 
8 p. m. we got under weigh, and proceeded to 
Chowan river, and came to anchor at 9:25 p. m. for 
the night. The weather is delightful. Wednesday, 
January 18, at 5 a. m. we got under weigh, and pro- 
ceeded to Holly's Landing, where we anchored at 
7 a. m. 

Thursday, January 19, at 9 a. m., we got under 
weigh, and proceeded to Edenton, where we arrived 
at 12 m. In the afternoon I attended the marriage of 
Acting Master James G. Green and Miss Cornelia 

B , which took place at Mr. Samuel B 's, 

the father of the bride. There were quite a number 



go REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

of the fleet's officers present. At 8 p. m., the Valley 
City proceeded towards Roanoke Island, with the 
bride and groom and the bride's two sisters and cousin 
aboard. 

Friday, January 20, at 1:30 a. m., we came to 
anchor, and at 8:30 a. m. we got under weigh, and 
arrived at Roanoke Island at 1 1:30 a. m. 

Saturday, January 21st, 1865, I went ashore at 
Roanoke Island. The weather is rainy, foggy, and 
windy. Monday, January 23, at 2 p. m., we got under 
weigh and proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived 
in the evening. The night is dark and foggy. Tues- 
day, January 24, the Valley City arrived at Edenton, 
and landed the sisters and cousin of the bride. Acting 
Master James G. Green and his wife having proceeded 
from Roanoke Island north, on a short tour. 

Saturday, January 28, 1865. — At 6 a. m., the Valley 
City got under weigh and proceeded to Colerain, 
where we arrived at 10 a. m. The weather has been 
extraordinarily cold the last three days. 

Wednesday, February i. — The weather has moder- 
ated and is pleasant. The Valley City is laying here 
for the purpose of protecting the troops ashore, com- 
manded by Colonel Frankle, and for that purpose we 
shell the woods occasionally. The boat Alison ran 
against a snag here and was sunk, and is now being 
raised. 

Saturday, February 4. — At 5^2 p. ni., we got under 
weigh with boat Alison in tow, which had been pre- 
viously raised so as to be buoyed up by two schoon- 



. IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 97 

ers, and arrived at Edenton Sunday, February 5, 
at 2 a. m., where we anchored the AHson, and at 1 1 
a. m. we proceeded to Plymouth; but at the mouth 
of Middle river we were met by the tug Belle, from 
which we received orders to return to Edenton, to 
tow the Alison to Plymouth. We arrived at Edenton 
at 3 p. m., and at 7 p. m. the officers and two boats' 
crews went ashore. At 9 p. m.. we took the Alison 
in tow, and arrived at the m.outh of Roanoke river, 
where we anchored at 2 a. m., Monday, February 6. 
There is a rise in the Roanoke river, and its current 
is very swift, so that the Valley City could make but 
little headway up the river. 

Thursday, February 9, at 9^ a. m., proceeded to 
Plymouth, where we arrived at 9^ a. m. Tuesday. 
February 21, at 12 m., we weighed anchor and pro- 
ceeded to Salmon's creek, where we arrived at 2.10 p. 
m. Here there were a number of contrabands and 
their effects taken on board. One of the contrabands 
stated she was 112 years of age, and had seen Wash- 
ington in her early life; she is apparently very old. 
At 10 p. m., a boat, with a rebel soldier and two old 
men, with bacon, beef and fowls, were hailed, and the 
men and their effects were brought on board the 
Valley City. 

Wednesday, February 22d, at 6 a. m., the Valley 
City got under weigh and proceeded toward Plymouth. 
At 7 a. m., we came to an anchor off Walnut Point, 
and took on board more contrabands, and at 10 a. m. 
we proceeded to Plym^outh, where we arrived at 11.20 



98 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

a. m. At 3 p. m. we got under weigh, and arrived at 
Edenton at 5 p. m. I went ashore with Captain J. A. 

J. Brooks, and called on Mr. Samuel B . The 

fleet at Plymouth fired a salute in commemoration of 
the birth of Washington. 

Thursday, February 23d, at 3 a. m., we got under 
weigh and proceeded to the mouth of Chowan river, 
and returned to Edenton, where \\^ arrived at 8 a. m. 
Captain J. A. J. Brooks and I went ashore, and called 

on Messrs. Samuel B , Henry B— — , and Mr. 

M . In the afternoon, we interred Matthew Sheri- 
dan, landsman, who had died of typhus fever. At 5 
p. m. we returned to ship and got under weigh and 
proceeded down the Albemarle Sound to Laurel 
Point, where we arrived at 9 p. m., and anchored. 
The weather is pleasant. 

Saturday, February 25, at 5^3 a. m., got under 
weigh and proceeded to the mouth of Little Alligator 
river, where we arrived and anchored at 9^^ a, m^ 

Sunday, February 26, at I ^ p. m., the Valley 
City got under weigh and steamed toward Roanoke 
Island, in pursuit of a schooner which Avas supposed 
to be running the blockade; but upon boarding her, 
it was found she had permission to trade with the 
inhabitants in that vicinity. At 6 p. m., we came to 
an anchor at the mouth of Alligator river. 

Monday, February 2J , at 6 a. m., the Valley City 
got under weigh and steamed up the Alligator river to 
Chincapin Ridge, where Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Act- 
ing Master's Mate O'Neill, and myself, with two crews 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 99 

of men, fourteen in number, went ashore and marched 
three miles into the country, through pines and cy- 
presses. Along the road we put up a mark on a tree 
and fired at it; and although I was not an expert 
marksman, 1 put a ball nearest the mark. We finally 
came to a house occupied by a man and his wife and 
their children, who were very poor. The house was 
illy furnished, and had only one apartment. The ap- 
pearance of it, inside or outside, was not very inviting. 
Captain J. A. J. Brooks asked the man whether he 
could provide dinner for the party. He demurred at 
first, but finally agreed to provide such a dinner as the 
viands in the house would permit of. All the party 
were very hungry, and were glad to have the oppor- 
tunity of sitting down to any sort of a dinner. The 
woman went to work to cook a dinner. In the mean- 
time, the officers, men, and host, employed themselves 
in shooting at a mark. During this time the host told 
us the war had been a benefit to him, in so far as it 
had made a temperance man of him. Before the war, 
he said, he had been an immoderate drinker of intoxi- 
cating liquors, but now he was temperate from neces- 
sity, as he could get nothing stronger than water to 
drink. Dinner was soon announced. It was set on a 
table about two feet square, without a tablecloth. 
Our dinner consisted of bacon, corn bread, and coffee 
made from corn. Only four could be seated at the 
same time around the table, consequently there were 
five successive tables served, occupying altogether 
about two hours in eating. We all enjoyed the din- 



lOO REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

ner, as we were very hungry from traveling through 
the pines. After remunerating our host in a sub- 
stantial way and thanking him for his hospitality, we 
returned to the vessel. 

Tuesday, February 28. — The Valley City got under 
weigh at 9 a. m., and arrived at Roanoke -Island at 
2:45 p. m. Wednesday, March i, at 7 p. m.. we 
weighed anchor and proceede_d to Plymouth. At 10 
p. m., WQ got aground near Croatan Sound. Thurs- 
day, March 2, at 5^2 o'clock a. m., we got under- 
weigh and proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived 
at 2 p. m. We brought with us as passengers Messrs. 
Douglass and Winslow, from Roanoke Island. 

Saturday, March 4, at 1 1 a. m., we proceeded to 
the mouth of Roanoke river, for the purpose of tow- 
ing a coal schooner to Plymouth. We arrived at 
Plymouth at ^yi p.m. The weather has been very 
warm. 

Wednesday, March 8, at 8 p. m., we got under 
wefgh and proceeded to Roanoke Island, where we 
arrived the following day at 6~}4 a. m. Mr. Harris, 
Second Assistant Engineer, and I, went ashore. 

Friday, March 10, at g}i a. m., we got under 
weigh, and at i p- m. anchored in Albemarle Sound. 
As the Valley City was steaming toward Plymouth, 
suddenly and unexpectedly a heavy squall came up, 
and tossed the Valley City about so much that we 
were fearful she might be capsized. The guns were 
not made fast at the time. The officers had just sat 
down to dinner as the Valley City commenced rolling 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. lOI 

and pitching tremendously. First we endeavored to 
save the contents of the dinner table; finally this effort 
was abandoned in order to save ourselves. We 
were tossed about the ward-room in an uncom- 
fortable manner. The contents of the dinner table 
went to the floor and were lost, and to m.end matters 
the Valley City got into the '* trough of the sea." 
The howitzers and ammunition above our heads on 
the poop deck, were being tossed from side to side, 
and so were also the large guns on the gun deck. 
The line officers and crew were soon engaged in get- 
ting the Valley City out of the '' trough of the sea," 
and securing her guns by making them fast. The 
gale continued about a half hour, after which the 
Valley City steamed quietly to Plymouth. On Satur- 
day, March ii, at 11:20 a. m., we anchored off Eden- 
ton, and at 4:35 p. m., proceeded to Plymouth, where 
we arrived at 7:15 p. m. 

Wednesday, March 15, the Valley City got un- 
der weigh and proceeded to the blockade above 
Plymouth. Monday, March 20, the Valley City 
got under weigh and proceeded to the mouth of the 
Cashie river, where we arrived at 2 p. m. Wednes- 
day, March 22, the Valley City got under weigh and 
proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived at 35/^ p. m. 
At 4^ p. m., we got under weigh and proceeded to 
Edenton, where we arrived at 6}4, P- ni. Captain J. 
A. J. Brooks, Paymaster J. W. Sands, Major Willis, 
Mr. Tiffing and myself, went ashore. Friday, March 
24, at 5 p. m., we got under weigh and proceeded to 



I02 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

Plymouth, where we arrived at 7 p. m. The weather 
is beautiful. Saturday, March 25, at ij4 P- ni., Com- 
mander Macomb came aboard, and the Valley City 
proceeded toward Newbern. x\t 8)4 P- ni., we an- 
chored in Croatan Sound. Sunday, ]\Iarch 26, at 5^^ 
a. m,, we got under .weigh, and at 7^^ a. m. we came 
to anchor. At lOj^ a. m. we got under weigh and 
proceeded to Newbern, wdiere we arrived the follow- 
ing day at I a. m. 

Friday, March 31, at 3 o'clock, a. m., we left New- 
bern, with Commander Macomb still aboard, and ar- 
rived at Roanoke Island at 5^ p. m. At 7 p. m. we 
got under weigh, and - proceeded as far as Croatan 
Sound, where we got aground,' and stuck fast till the 
following day, when at 12^ a. m. we got afloat, and 
anchored till 5 a. m., when we proceeded to Plymouth, 
where we arrived at 2 p. m. Commander ]\Iacomb 
went on board his own ship, the Shamrock. At 4j4 
p. m. w^e got under weigh, and proceeded by way of 
Albemarle Sound and Chowan river to Winton, and 
then up Meherrin river to ?vIurfreesborough, N. C, in 
company with the U. S. Steamers Shamrock, WVal us- 
ing, and Hunchback. We dragged the Meherrin 
river for torpedoes from Winton to Murfreesborough, 
but found none, arriving at ilurfreesborough on ]\Ion- 
day, April 3, at 6:35 p. m. 

Murfreesborough is a small, beautifully-located 
town, on a high plateau of ground on the right bank 
of the Meherrin river, surrounded by woods. There 
were two female seminaries in the place, one a Bap- 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVV^ IO3 

tist, the other a Methodist. The people were intelli- 
gent, but very much interested in the success of the 
Confederacy. This place was opened up by the fleet 
for the purpose of being a depot of supply for Sher- 
man's army, and was intended to be the next point ot 
landing after Sherman left Raleigh. In Murfrees- 
borough there were about one thousand rebels, who 
gave us great annoyance till they were finally cap- 
tured by the 3d New York cavalry. 

On the following Tuesday, April 4, Acting Ensign 
Milton Webster and myself went ashore for the pur- 
pose of ascertaining the whereabouts of Paymaster J. 
W. Sands, who had previously gone ashore. At a 
point midway between the cliff of the river and the 
town, we met a colored man who told us we had 
better be careful, as there were rebel cavalry in the 
town. We then went away from the town in a line 
parallel with the river, across a ravine which was at 
right angles with the river. Just as we had crossed 
the ravine, we saw the rebel cavalry coming down on 
the opppsite side. We took to our heels and ran 
under fire till we got to the woods, and thence to the 
fleet. When we arrived aboard the Valley City, we 
found that Paymaster Sands had returned on board, 
and had taken about the same route ashore as we had. 

On Wednesday, April 5, the marines were put in 
line and marched into the town under cover of the 
fleet ; but as they marched in the rebels marched out. 
Acting Ensign J. B. Fairchilds was very seriously 
wounded by an accidental discharge of his own pistol 
before starting. 



I04 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

On Thursday, April 6, several ofificers and men of 
the fleet were ashore, but did not go into the town. 
In the afternoon many of our men approached near 
the city, where the rebel cavalry could be seen plainly. 
Paymaster J. W* Sands and I had walked about one- 
half the distance from the river towards the town, 
when we saw the rebel cavalry. We then returned 
nearer the river, to a cabin in which two very old col- 
ored people lived, in the rear of a large log on which 
Captain J. A. J. Brooks was standing, we both 
went into the cabin. After a few minutes' stay there 
in conversation with the colored people, I happened 
to look out of the window and saw the officers and 
men cf the fleet running. I immediately said to Pay- 
master Sands, ''The rebels are coming!" Then we 
ran out of the cabin under fire down toward the fleet. 
The bullets fell all around me as I was running, and 
just as I came to a path which led down the cliff', on 
which a lot of scrub oak was growing, the fleet opened 
fire, and the branches of the trees over my head , 
were cut by the flying shells. I immediately fell out 
of range of the shells^ and took an unfrequented path 
which led to the mouth of the ravine. I soon arrived at 
the mouth of the ravine, near by the river. Meantime 
the fleet was keeping up a rapid fire. The remainder of 
the officers and men came down, but soon learned our 
supposed enemy was the 3d New York cavalry, who 
also thought we were Confederates. This cavalry 
force had m.ade a raid from Weldon, and had ap- 
proached the town from the opposite side from where 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 



105 



the fleet was laying, and in so doing captured the 
rebel cavah'y in the town of Miirfreesborough. There 
was fortunately nobody injured. The horses of the 
cavalry were covered with foam and very much heated 
— so much so that the saddles were taken from their 
backs, and they were led around for an hour before 
they cooled off. 

The same afternoon, after the third New York cav- 
alry had arrived, many of the officers of the fleet, 
feeling they might visit the town with impunity, did 
so. Captain J. A, J. Brooks, Lieutenant Joseph P. 
Fyffe of the Hunchback, James M. Battin, chief en- 
gineer of the Valley City, Paymaster J. W. Sands and 

myself, by invitation, took tea with a Mr. C^ of the 

place. 

The next morning, Thursday, April 6, the third 
New York cavalry marched through the main street 
and left the town. All the windows of the houses on 
the main street were closed, and none of their occu- 
pants were to be seen. This was done in contempt 
for the Federal troops. After our cavalry had de- 
parted, the officers and the marines returned to the 
fleet, and at 4:15 p. m. got under weigh, and arrived 
off Winton at 10 p. m., where the fleet rem.ained for 
some time. 

Wednesday, April 10, at 12 m., the Valley City got 
under weigh and proceeded by way of Edenton to 
Plymouth, where we arrived at 2:15 a. m. the following 
day. At 3:05 a. m. we got under weigh and returned 
to Winton, where we arrived at 12 m. At this point 



I06 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

and time we first heard, through the Nevv^ York 
Herald^ that the Confederate troops under General 
Lee had been driven from Petersburg by the Federal 
troops under General U, S. Grant. There was great 
rejoicing aboard the fleet. The U. S. steamers Sham- 
rock, Wyalusing and Hunchback, fired a salute in cel- 
ebration of that event. At 3^ p. m. the U. S. 
steamers Valley City and Whitehead proceeded to 
Murfreesborough, where we arrived at 6^ p. m. 

Friday, April 14, at 7:50 a. m., the Valley City and 
Whitehead got under weigh, and proceeded down to 
Winton, where we met the Wilderness, with Com- 
mander Wm. H. Macomb and Lieutenant Commander 
Earl English aboard, when we received the news that 
the Confederate forces under General Lee had sur- 
rendered to General Grant. 

The U. S. steamers Valley City, and Whitehead 
were prdered to proceed to Murfreesborough and de- 
liver the news to the citizens at that place ; and now, 
after having read a copy of the New York Herald^ 
they v/ere thoroughly convinced that the war Vv^as 
over. Saturday, April 15, at 11:45 ^- ^-^ the U. S. 
steamers Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh 
and proceeded to Winton, where w^e arrived at 7:55 p. m. 

Tuesday, April 18, we first received news of Presi- 
dent Lincoln's assassination, which event cast a gloom 
over the entire nation. At 12:45 P- ni., the U. S. 
steamers Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh 
and proceeded up the Chow^an river to Blackwater 
river, up w^hich we steamed to Franklin, Virginia, 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, lO/ 

where we arrived at 8 a. m. the following day. We 
visited the people ashore at different times during our 
stay at that place. Thursday, April 20, at 8^/^ a. m., 
the Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh, and 
proceeded down the Blackwater river to Chowan 
river, down which we steamed to its mouth, where w^e 
anchored. 

There are a great many fish in the Chowan river, 
and the Valley City has often caught shad and herring 
by the barrel, in a large seine which the inhabitants 
of that vicinity use for the purpose. 

Saturday, April 22, at 4:25 a. m., the U. S. steamers 
Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh, and at 
8:30 a. rvi. arrived at Plymouth, where we anchored. 
At 3:20 p. m., the Valley City and Whitehead got 
under weigh, and arrived at Edenton at 5:30 p. m., 
and at II p. m. the Valley City and Whitehead got 
under weigh and steamed toward Hertford, N. C, 
where we arrived on Sunday, April 23, at 7^ a. m. 
At 10 a. m. the officers of the two vessels in full uni- 
form went to an Episcopal service held in a church in 
Hertford. The members of the congregation were 
sparsely scattered on seats throughout the church. 
Upon the officers entering and occupying two pews 
on the left hand side of the church, that portion of 
the congregation occupying the same range of seats 
as ourselves very abruptly and hurriedly sought seats 
on the other side. After listening to a sermon which 
w^as nervously delivered, we quietly and orderly re- 
turned aboard our respective vessels. 



I08 REMIXISCEXCES OF TWO YEARS 

Hertford is a small town on a body of water ex- 
tending from Albemarle Sound, called Perquimans. 
The people were usually kind and courteous, after 
they discovered that our disposition was to be friendly 
toward them. There were people living there who 
were in sympathy with the Federal government, and 
to whose hospitality we v/ere kindly invited and wel- 
comed. One day during our stay at Hertford, Pay- 
master J. \V. Sands and myself procured a buggy and 
horse, and drove to Edenton, a distance of twenty 
miles, and returned to Hertford in the evening. The 
trip was not considered a very safe one, on account 
of the number of bushwhackers there had been in 
that vicinity. 

Monday, x\Iay i, at S^i a. m., the Valley City got 
under weigh, and arri\-ed at Edenton at 2:10 p. m.; 
and at 5 p. m. left Edenton and arrived at Plymouth 
at 7 p. m. Tuesday, ]\Iay 9, the \^alley City got 
under weigh for the purpose of clearing the Roanoke 
river of torpedoes. The U. S. steamer Iosco, com- 
manded by Lieutenant Commander James S. Thorn- 
ton, accompanied us. 

Saturda}', ]\[ay 13, the \^alley City and Iosco arrived 
at Hamilton, X. C. Captain Thornton, Third Assist- 
ant Enq-ineer Amos Harris, Ensii^n Hull, and mvself 
went ashore and spent the afternoon. In the morning 
before arriving; at Hamilton, Lieutenant-Commander 
James S. Thornton of the Iosco went ashore, and vis- 
ited Rainbow Bluff. Captain Thornton made the 
remark that the place would have been very difficult 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. IO9 

to capture with any naval force, so strongly was it 
fortified. 

Lieutenant- Commander James S. Thornton was 
executive officer aboard the U. S. steamer Kearsarge 
at the time this vessel sunk the rebel blockade run- 
ner Alabama, in which the transaction was so quick 
and complete. Captain Thornton stated that at II 
o'clock a. m., of a Sunday, w^hen he received the 
report of there being a- ship in sight, he w^as seated in 
a chair, with his feet resting on the wardroom table, 
reading the Bible. The rattle for general quarters 
was rung, and the Kearsarge got under w^eigh, and 
proceeded toward the Alabama, sunk her, and by 2 
o'clock of the same afternoon the Kearsarge arrived 
at Cherbourg, France. Comments by the citizens of 
that place were made on the cleanliness of the Kear- 
sarge after sinking so formidable a vessel as the 
Alabama. 

Monday, May 15, at i p. m., the Valley City 
arrived at Palmyra, N. C, I visited the town. It is a 
place of about a half-a-dozen houses, about a mile 
from the right bank of the Roanoke river. At this 
place Captain J. A. J. Brooks joined the Valley City 
with the Cotton Plant and Fisher, two steamers 
which the Confederates had captured from the Fed- 
erals at Plymouth at the time the Southfield was sunk 
by the rebel ram Albemarle. There were aboard 
these boats fifty bales of cotton. In the ev^ening, 
pilot John A. Wilson ran the Valley City hard and 
fast aground, so that it took the greater part of the 
night to get her afloat. 



no REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

Thursday, May i6, the Valley City steamed up to 
Ergot's Landing, and took aboard thirty- nine bales of 
cotton. Thursday, May 1 8, the Valley City got 
under weigh and proceeded down the Roanoke river 
and came to anchor five miles above Hamilton. 

Saturday, May 20, at 9 a. m., the Valley City got 
under weigh, and proceeded to Hamilton, where we 
camic to an anchor. On Tuesday, May 23, in the 
morning Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Paymaster J. W. 
Sands and myself went hunting for squirrels. Pay- 
master Sands separated from us early in the morning. 
The Captain and I soon came to a mulberry tree, on 
which he shot a squirrel which was after mulberries ; 
another came and was shot, and before night we shot 
a dozen. In the evening, upon returning to the ves- 
sel, we met Paymaster Sands, who was also returning 
to the vessel. He had been traveling all day in the 
woods, but did not shoot a squirrel. We all pro- 
ceeded to the Valley City, and had the squirrels 
cooked for supper, of which we ate heartily, for we 
were vet*y hungry. This was the last supper I ate 
aboard the Valley City, 

- The following morning, Wednesday, May 24, at 
5:30 o'clock, I was relieved by Acting Assistant Sur- 
geon L. W. Loring, and ordered North on a two 
months leave Oi absence ; and now I am to say fare- 
well to the officers and crew of the Valley City, w^ith 
whom I have shared their dangers, their sorrow^s and 
their joys, and the old ship I am also to leave, which 
has buoyed us so safely over the short and rugged 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. I I I 

waves of the v/aters of North Carolina, amidst the 
torpedoes, the sharpshooters, and the artillery of the 
enemy. This is certainly an occasion of joy, yet 
mingled Vv'ith sadness. '' Farewell is a word that has 
been, a word that must be, a sound which makes us 
linger — yet we must say, farew^ell." 

HOMEW'ARD BOUND. 

I w^ent aboard the Eolus, which proceeded up the 
Roanoke river, and at 4:30 p. m, we met the Cotton 
Plant, with Commander W. H. Macomb aboard, eight 
miles below Halifax. The Eolus, with the Cotton 
Plant, returned to Edward's Ferry, where we arrived 
at 7 p. m. I went ashore. This place, which is a 
large plantation, and w^as owned by Mr. Wm. Smith, 
v/ho owns, or did own, quite a number of slaves, who 
worked the plantation. At this time the slaves were 
cultivating corn. The male slaves, with hoes to hoe 
the corn, foUow^ed after the female slaves, who drove 
the horses and directed the cultivators or ploughs. 
The rebel ram Albemarle w^as constructed at Ed- 
ward's Ferry, and there was another ram or ironclad 
in process of construction at this place; but it was 
destroyed by the rebels at the close of the war. I 
saw the landing where these rams were constructed ; 
the chips from them could be seen lying all around. 

Thursday, May 25. — We left Edward's Ferry at 10 
a. m.,,and at 8 p. m. the Eolus came to an anchor 
near Poplar Point, where we visited the graves of 
those who had been killed in the late action at this 
place. 



112 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

Friday, May 26. — The Eolus, with Commander 
W. H. Macomb on board, got under weigh and 
steamed to Plymouth, where we arrived at 12 m. 
Commander W. H. Macomb went aboard his own 
vessel, the Shamrock. At 8 p. m. the Eolus got under 
weigh and steamed towards Roanoke Island, and came 
to an anchor at 12 p. m. in Albemarle Sound. 

Saturday, May 27, at 4)^ a. m, the Eolus got 
under weigh and proceeded to Roanoke Island, Where 
we arrived at 7:15 a. m. At 2^ p. m. I took passage 
in the boat Washington Irving, which got under 
weigh and steamed till g}4 p. ni., when I changed 
nito the boat Arrow, which steamed two miles up the 
Dismal Swamp canal, and passed by the wreck of the 
Fawn, which had been previously captured, sunk and 
burned by the rebels, and there came to an anchor. 
During the night I slept on a bench, with my boot 
for a pillow. 

Sunday, May 28, the boat Arrow left Coinjock at 
5 a. m., and arrived at Norfolk, Va., at 1 p. m. I 
took dinner at the National House in that place. At 
2^ p. m. I took passage from Norfolk in the Louisi- 
ana, and arrived at Fortress Monroe at 3^ p. m. 
We passed by the wreck of the rebel iron-clad Merri- 
mac. At 5 p. m. the Louisiana got under weigh for 
Baltimore, where she arrived Monday, May 29, at 6 
o'clock a. m.; and then I went by way of Philadelphia 
home, where I arrived about noon of May 30, 1865. 

The atmosphere never seemed to me more salubri- 
ous than at this time ; the grass never appeared 



IX THE UNITED STATES NAVY. II3 

greener, the flowers never seemed to exhale more 
fragrance, and the people never seemed kinder. It 
seemed a perfect Paradise compared with the swamps 
of North Carolina. 

During the time of my 'Meave of absence," I met 
with the following men of note, all of whom are now 
dead : Hon. Thaddeus Stevens I met in the reading- 
room of the United States Hotel at Harrisburg, Pa., 
seated on a chair u^ith his feet resting on a table, 
reading the newspapers, a number of files of which he 
had lying all around him. He would first glance at 
one file and then at another, till he had examined all. 
I have heard of two anecdotes told about him. One 
was, whilst meeting an enemy face to face on the 
street in Lancaster, _ Pa., his enemy said to Mr. Ste- 
vens, '' I never turn out of the road of a fool." The 
latter said sharply, '' I do," and passed around the 
former. The other incident occurred whilst ]^Jr. Ste- 
vens was verv ill in Washincrton, D. C. A friend 
visited him and com.plimented him on his appearance. 
Mr. Stevens very jocularly replied that it v;as not his 
appearance that interested him (Mr. Stevens) so much 
as his disappearance. I have since visited his grave 
in Lancaster, Pa., which has the follovring inscription 
upon the tombstone : 

Thaddeus Stevens, 

Born at Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont, 

April 4, 1792. 

Died at AVashington, D. C, 

August II, 1868. 



114 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

STEVENS. 

I repose in this quiet and secluded spot, 

Not from any preference for solitude, 

But finding other cemeteries limited as to race 

by charter rules, 

I have chosen this, that I might illustrate 

in my death 

the principle which I advocated 

through a long life, 

Equality of man before his Creator. 

1792-1868. 

I also met in Lancaster, Pa., about the same time, 
ex-President James Buchanan. But in the month of 
June, 1862, I had the curiosity to call on that gentle- 
man at his home near Lancaster, called Wheatland. 
I found an affable, friendly, heavy-set and gray-haired 
old gentleman, seated in a chair in his library. After 
entering into conversation with him upon general 
topics, he touched upon his early life, his struggles as 
a young man in the profession of law, his nomination 
and election to the Presidency of the United States, 
and also upon his ocrupany of that office. There was 
anticipation at that time of Richmond being captured 
on or before the com.ing Fourth of July. I asked Mr. 
Buchanan if he thought Richmond would be captured 
by that time. He replied that he did not, but he 
hoped that the war for the preservation of the Union 
would be successfully terminated by the following 
July a year. I then asked him if he thought Napo- 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. II5 

leon would give his aid to the Confederacy, as it was 
rumored at that time that he would do so. He an- 
swered that Napoleon was a man w^ho kept his own 
counsel. During my stay there, there was a gentle- 
man called upon him for the purpose of soliciting aid 
in defraying the expenses of celebrating the coming 
Fourth of July at Lancaster, Pa. He contributed 
liberally, and told the solicitor if the amount he had 
already given him was not sufficient, to call again, 
and he would contribute more. 

I have since visited his grave at Lancaster, Pa., 
which has the following inscription upon the tombstone: 

Here rest the remains of 

James Buchanan, 

Fifteenth President of the United States, 

Born in Franklin county, Pa., April^3d, 1781. 

Died at Wheatland, January i, 1868. 

(Second side.) J78I-I868. 

(Third side.) BUCHANAN. 

I also called on Dr. Samuel Jackson, who, during a 
long and extended practice in his profession, had been 
at one time Henry Clay's physician. I attended a 
course of his lectures at the Medical Department of 
the University of Pennsylvania. He had lost the use of 
his lower extremities, and was seated in a chair, at his 
home in Philadelphia, Pa. He stated he had from 
early life to the present been a hard student ; and as 
he was about to pass through the portal of this life 
into another, he expected still to be a student there. 



Il6 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

He stated that it had at different times of his hfe been 
a matter of serious consideration as to how much in- 
flammable matter in a given time the sun used in 
warming the space included in the solar system. He 
said he expected to be able to make this calculation in 
another life. 

I also met with General James L. Kiernan, in New 
York city. I was called to attend him whilst visiting 
in that city, in an attack of congestive chills, which he 
had contracted whilst on duty in the State of Louis- 
iana. He had stumped several of the northern States 
for President Lincoln's second election, and had been 
appointed United States Consul to China after that 
election. He filled this office till the close of Presi- 
dent Johnson's administration. He was a man about 
forty-five years of age, an excellent conversationalist, 
a good companion, and a fine orator. 

On September 23, 1865, I was ordered to Cairo, 
111., for duty aboard the U. S. monitors Oneota and 
Catawba, as a relief to Acting Assistant Surgeon Geo. 
C. Osgood. I reported to Commodore J. W. Living- 
ston for duty October 6, 1865, having arrived in Cairo 
on the previous evening. I stopped at the St. Charles 
Hotel all night. The weather was very hot and dry, 
the river was low, and for a distance along shore an 
unhealthy green foam had gathered along the edge of 
the river. Congestive chills were quite prevalent 
there that fall. 

Cairo is a large and thriving town, situated at the 
extreme southern point of the state of Illinois. Many 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 11/ 

of the houses then were built on stilts or posts. The 
sidewalks were also resting on stilts or posts, so that 
in crossing a street a person would have to walk down 
a pair of stairs, then across the street, and mount 
another pair of stairs. During the time of arise in the 
Mississippi or Ohio river, the place was flooded, and 
then the citizens would use boats for the purpose of 
navigating from place to place. The town was some- 
what protected from overflows by levees. 

The monitors were very nicely finished and fur- 
nished inside. The deck was about six inches above 
water. There were four monitors anchored in line in 
the middle of the Ohio river off Cairo. The names 
of them were as follows: Oneota, Catawba, Many- 
yunk and Tippecanoe. The officers of all these ves- 
sels messed aboard the U. S. monitor Oneota. Act- 
ing Lieutenant Commander Wells was the captain of 
the Oneota. He was afterwards relieved by Acting 
Master H. E. Bartlett. Thomas Cook was her chief 
engineer, and Don Carlos Hasseltino was chief engi- 
neer of the monitor Catawba. One of the officers 
of the Oneota was a persistent story-teller, and the 
only way to get him to stop telling his story was 
to suggest to him to make a chalk mark and finish 
the remainder of it the following day. One day, 
early in the morning, he and I went ashore in Ken- 
tucky, hunting; and hunted all day without any 
dinner. I got very tired and left him, and returned 
to the boat, which was made fast ashore opposite to 
the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, where 



Il8 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

I lay down on a brush-heap and fell asleep; but when 
my companion started to row to the Oneota, the rat- 
tling of the oars awakened me, otherwise I would 
have been left. One time, during a freshet in the Ohio 
river, I think in January, I had occasion to go to one 
of the monitors anchored in the rear of the Oneota. 
After arriving on that mionitor, in our attempt to return, 
I found that the boat could make no headway against 
the current We struck over along the Kentucky bank 
of the river, and did what the sailor calls ''cheating 
the current;" that is, we rowed up along the bank 
of the river. After rowing above the Oneota, we 
crossed the bows of the Oneota and threw out the end 
of a painter, which was instantly tied around the 
stanchion of the Oneota. The painter broke, and down 
the river the boat was carried by the current; but 
somebody aboard the Oneota threw the end of a rope 
overboard, which we caught, and we were pulled back 
aboard. Another time during the freshet, Mr. Thomas 
Cook and I went ashore, and were nearly carried by 
the swift current between two packet boats^ but we 
fortunately saved ourselves. 

A pilot wishing to cross with a packet-boat before 
or in front of the Oneota's bows, from a landing on 
the Cairo side of the river to the Kentucky side, ran 
the boat into the Oneota, and the packet was sunk. 
The packet-lpoat was laden with passengers, who were 
all saved. 

Don Carlos Hasseltino was chief engineer of the 
U. S. monitor Catawba, but spent most of his time on 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. IIQ 

board the U. S. monitor Oneota, and was one of the 
mess-mates of that vessel. I associated with him 
constantly from October 6, 1865, to January 16, 1866. 
He was a jolly, kind, sympathetic, and intelligent 
associate. In height he was about six feet, and had 
a large, wiry frame. His hair and eyes were black ; 
he wore a black moustache. He never gave offence 
to any one, but would not suffer himself to be insulted. 
He carried two Derringers in leather pockets but-x 
toned to his pantaloons above the hips. He was 
very polite and chivalrous ; woe to the person that 
gave offense or offered insult. I insert here a sketch 
of his life. 

[From the Cincinnati Enquirer of 1880.] 

"A LIFE OF ADVENTURE. 

'* GENERAL DON CARLOS HASSELTINO'S STORY OF HIS START- 
LING CAREER— REBEL SPY AND UNION OFFICER — HIS 
ADVENTURE IN THE ARMY IN PERU AS A 
CUBAN REFUGEE. 

"General Don Carlos Hasseltino was met by an 
Enquirer reporter on a Wabash train the other day. 
His life has been one of adventure. Previous to the 
war he graduated at Oxford, in Butler county, in the 
same class with the gallant Joe Battle, who, with his 
brother, fell beside their father at Shiloh, while fight- 
ing under the flag of the Lost Cause. After graduat- 
ing he went to Hamilton and read law with Judge 
Clark, who acquired some notoriety at Hamilton by 
his advocacy of the right of secession in 1 860-61. 
Whenr the war begun, Hasseltino determined to risk 
his fortunes with the Confederacy. He started South 



I20 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

under the pretext of escorting to her husband in Ten- 
nesee Mrs. Dallie, the wife of Adjutant Joe Battle, of 
the Sixth Tennessee. They passed south from Louis- 
ville on the last train which left that city before the 
war, and arrived at Nashville. From there, young 
Hasseltino went to Montgomery, Ala., then the Con- 
federate capital, where he was appointed Major, and a 
little later Lieutenant-Colonel; and was ordered to 
Pensacola, Fla. When that place fell into the hands 
of the National troops, he was captured; but within a 
day or two he made his escape. His next point of 
duty was at Fort McHenry, from whence he went to 
Louisville and bought for the Confederate troops a 
quantity of supplies, and succeeded in getting them 
safely within the Confederate lines. When General 
Grant was advancing upon Fort Donaldson, he went 
out as a spy, and spent most of three days with the 
Federals. Being recognized, he was ordered to be 
shot at nine o'clock in the evening, but in the rain 
and darkness made his escape, and reached the fort at 
daylight the next morning, drenched and almost 
frozen. Upon his report being heard, it was decided 
to evacuate the fort with most of the forces. From 
Island No. lO he fell back to Memphis; and, believing 
that nothing would stay the victorious march of the 
L^nion arms, sent in his resignation, which was ac- 
cepted. 

*' SECURING A PASS NORTH. 

^' When the Federals occupied Memphis he remained 
here, trusting to nerve and luck to get away. To his 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 121 

horror he learned the next day that Colonel Alex- 
ander, of the Forty-eighth Indiana, with whom he 
was at college, was made Provost Marshal of the post, 
and that no one could leave the city except on a pass 
issued by him. He had some knowledge of French, 
and had grown quite a beard since leaving school, 
and he determined to take the risk. Walking into 
the Colonel's room, with many shrugs and gesticula- 
tions he asked for a'Permissio San Louie,' and urged 
it with such vehemence that the Colonel finally said 
to his assistant, ' Give the d— d Frenchman a pass to 
St. Louis.' While going up the river he was in con- 
stant dread of recognition, but fortunately did not 
meet a soul whom he knew. Hardly had he landed 
when he met a former school-miate and intim.ate friend 
from Hamilton, who was then Assistant Engineer in 
the Navy. His friend knew that he had gone south, 
and accused him of being in St. Louis as a spy. This 
he denied, and then told him all the details of his 
adventures, and finally appealed to his friend for ad- 
vice as to what he should do or where he should go, 
for he began to feel unsafe there. His friend advised 
him not to return to Hamilton, where he would be in 
certain danger ; and finally suggested that he apply for 
an appointment as an assistant engineer in the navy. 
' Why, I don't know a steam-engine from a horse- 
power,' was his answer. But his friend proposed to 
help him out, and provided him with a lot of books, 
which would teach him all the theory; and at them 
he went; and in six weeks he went before the Exam- 



122 REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS 

ining Board and passed as a first assistant engineer, 
and was ordered to duty on the gunboat Essex, the 
flag-ship of Commodore Porter, who was in command 
of the Mississippi river flotilla. This was jumping 
out of the frying-pan into the fire. He knew nothing 
practically of the engine, thinking then, as he told his 
friend, that ' the pumping engine must be for the pur- 
pose of moving the vessel sidewise.' But luck was 
on his side. While lying in port, or before going to 
duty, he got a few talks with Commodore Porter, and 
succeeded in getting to the rank of Chief Engineer 
in the navy, and assigned to duty on the staff" of the 
Commodore. If those who read this will take the 
trouble to read the report of the Secretary of the 
Navy to Congress in 1864, they will find that that 
official transmitted to Congress that part of Commo- 
dore Porter's report which embraces a report of Chief 
Engineer Hasseltino on the construction of iron-clad 
gunboats, and recommended the adoption of the 
report. 

'' INSPECTING GOVERNMENT IRON-CLADS. 

"After the close of the ill-fated Red river campaign, 
Hasseltino was ordered to St. Louis to inspect and 
superintend the construction of the iron-clads which 
were being built by McCord & Co. But just before 
leaving his vessel he had a quarrel with a fellow- 
officer, whom he challenged; but when the challenge 
was declined he opened on the other party with a bat- 
tery of Derringers, fortunately missing the object of 
his aim. 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 1 23 

"In 1865, he went to some European port and 
brought a blockade runner, the name of which I have 
forgotten. In the early part of 1866, he was mustered 
out of service and went to New Orleans, intending to 
go into business. In the July riots he was shot 
through the shoulder ; and, thinking the climate un- 
healthy, went to St. Louis. Here he fell in with a 
representative of the government of Chili, and went 
to South America. 

''In an attack on Caliao — for Peru and Chili were at 
war — he fell into the hands of the Peruvians, and with 
his usual luck was sentenced to be shot. By bribing 
the guards, he succeeded in escaping and making his 
wav on board of an Eno;lish vessel, and was landed at 
Panama. Crossing the Isthmus to Aspinwall, he 
found a vessel ready to leave for New Orleans ; and, 
though without money, managed to secure a passage 
to that place. 

''Without money he was naturally open for any ad- 
venture, and a representative of the Cuban rebellion 
was the first to ofter him a chance. He sailed directly 
to Nuevitas, and before he had been in that port a 
week had fallen in love with a young Cuban widow, 
who, though childless, was possessed of an immense 
plantation. After the briefest possible courtship, they 
were married in the latter part of 1867 or early in 
1868; within three months of the wedding she died 
from yellow fever ; and before the end of the year her 
estate, which he had inherited, was confiscated, and 
he barely escaped with his life, landing in Florida in 



124 REMINISCENXES OF TWO YEARS 

an open boat and in a half-starved condition, without 
friends or money. He managed to reach Indiana- 
polis in Jul}', 1869, when a naval acquaintance and 
friend. Tames Xoble, gave him an outfit of clothes and 
money sufficient to take him to Chicago. Here he 
determined to locate, and went to vrork to find busi- 
ness. He 2:ot an ag"enc\' for the sale of coal, and 
soon had quite a start in the coal business. When 
the Chicago fire broke out, on that dreadful Sunday 
night, he was out on the lake boating with a party of 
friends. When he got back, the conflagration had 
swept his little coal pile, his office and sleeping room, 
and he was as^ain left in the world without a chano-e 
of clothes, and with less than five dollars in money. 
The third da\' of the fire he was found b\' Otto 
Hasselman, of the Indianapolis Journal who was on 
the ground with a corps of reporters ; and b\' him 
sent to Indianapolis, where he was again furnished 
with an outfit and a ticket to St. Louis. Shortly 
after reaching that place he entered the service of the 
vrholesale house of R. L. Billingsley & Co.. and re- 
mained with them until a year ago, when he pur- 
chased a farm in Illinois." 

Januar}' 16, 1866. I received a two month's " leave 
of absence." at the expiration of which I received the 
following; discharge : 

United States of America, 1 
Navy Department. / 

The war for the preservation of the Union having, 



IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 1 25 

under the beneficent guidance of Almighty God, been 
brought to a successful termination, a reduction of the 
naval force becomes necessary. 

Having served with fidelity in the United States 
Navy from the 22d day of March, 1864, to the present 
date, you are hereby honorably discharged with the 
thanks of the Department. 

Given under my hand and seal, at the city of Wash- 
ington, this 23d day of March, one thousand eight 
hundred and sixty-six. Gideon Welles, 

Secretary of the Navy. 
Acting Assistant Surgeon, 
John il. Batten, 
U. S. Navy. 
Giithrieville , Pa. 



THE end. 



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